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Willughbeia edulis Roxb.
| Family Name: | Apocynaceae |
| Synonyms: | Willughbeia coriacea Wall., Willughbeia dulcis Ridl., Willughbeia firma Blume |
| Common Name: | Aguh Gitan, Akar Getah Gerip |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Climber |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Indochina, Peninsular Malaysia, and Singapore |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Freshwater Swamp Forest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a woody climber with long and branched tendrils. Its branches are marked with lenticels. Its bark is black and warty. All plant parts exude white latex when cut or damaged. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its opposite, stalked leaves have papery or rather leathery leaf blades that are oval or oblong, 3.2–25 by 1.2–12 cm, and sometimes up to 5 times as long as wide. |
| Flowers | Its flowering clusters are 2.8 cm long, often with 3–12 flowers each, arising singly or at most doubly from a leaf axil. Its white or yellow flowers are fragrant. |
| Fruit | Its fruits are round or egg-shaped berries, and about 1.2–5.8 cm wideacross. Its seeds with are up to 13 mm across. |
| Habitat | It grows in lowland forests and freshwater swamp forests. It occurs locally in Bukit Timah, Central Catchment Nature Reserve, along Chestnut Track, Seletar Track, in Mandai, Mount Serapong, Nee Soon Swamp Forest, Pulau Ubin (Chek Jawa), Pulau Tekong, and Pulau Ubin. |
| Associated Fauna | Its flowers are insect-pollinated. Its fruits are eaten by mammals. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
| Etymology | Latin Willughbeia, commemorating Francis Willughby, an 18th century English naturalist; Latin edulis, edible, referring to this plant’s edible fruits |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits Food (Fruit or Vegetable): Its fruits are edible. Medicinal: Its stem and latex have been used in treating dysentery, liver problems and yaws. Others: It was a source of poor quality rubber before introduction of the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | It is suitable for parks. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Fragrant |
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
|---|---|
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Little Water, Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Papery, Leathery |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oval, Oblong) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | White, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Solitary, Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Green - Light Green |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Non-Accessory Fruit |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 238 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1534 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |