Lepisanthes alata (Blume) Leenh.
Malay Cherry / Engkili/Perupok (M.)
Description
Traditional Medicinal Uses
Ecology
Propagation
Distribution
Precaution
Terrestrial tree up to 15 m tall. Leaves are pinnately compound with 3-13 pairs of sessile or subsessile, glabrous, alternate or oppositely arranged leaflets. Leaf blade is oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate, acuminate at apex, oblique at base with entire margin and penni- nerved. Stems are glabrous and winged on both sides. Flowers are small, purple to reddish-brown and scentless. Inflorescence is mostly solitary and often drooping. Fruit a fleshy white berry that contains few seeds and turning dark brownish purple to nearly black when ripe.
The leaves are rubbed directly to the skin as a poultice to treat insect bites. The plant is known for its antimalarial, anticancer, antimicrobial and antihypoglycaemic
It thrives in forests and along riverbanks. It prefers fertile, moist and well- drained soil under full sunlight.
Seeds, stem and root cutting.
Native to India and Sri Lanka.
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