Commersonia bartramia (L.) Merr
Scrub Christmas Tree / Durian tupai (M.)
Description
Traditional Medicinal Uses
Ecology
Propagation
Distribution
Precaution
Perennial small tree that can reach up to 15 m tall. Leaves are simple, spirally and alternately arranged, adaxially nearly glabrous to sparsely hairy, abaxially densely covered with whitish-grey hairs. Leaf blade is ovate-oblong, acute at apex, cordate to subtruncate at base with toothed margin and palmate venation. Branchlets are covered with yellow hairs. Twigs are often in zig- zag arrangement. Inflorescence a cyme arising from terminal branch or leaf axils. Flowers are whitish. Fruit a globose, dehiscent, spiny capsule that is covered with hairs. Seeds are glossy
Rootstock is made into a decoction. It is used by local healers as a diagnostic test for patients having rectal bleeding caused from hemorrhoid, urinary diseases and boils. The cold decoction of rootstocks is used to wash the head thrice daily to treat headache and fever.
It prefers fertile loamy soil under full sunlight. It thrives in open areas, along roadsides, open slopes and along streams.
Seeds.
Native to Southeast Asia to New Guinea, Australia and Solomon
None