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Litsea resinosa Blume
| Family Name: | Lauraceae |
| Common Name: | Medang Sesudu |
Litsea resinosa is a tree native to Singapore. Growing between 10 - 30 m tall, it has leathery, elliptic or spoon-shaped leaves with a greyish, pale green underside. Flowers are unisexual, pale yellow, 6-lobed, covered in hairs, held on an inflorescence along the axils. The fruit is a single-seeded, elliptic, smooth berry that sits on a shallow, smooth cupule and upon maturity, it turns from greenish white to shiny, dark red coloured.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Medium (16m-30m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 30 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Peninsular and Southeastern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo, Java |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Freshwater Swamp Forest, Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a tree with grey coloured bark and wide fissures, growing between 10 - 30 m tall. Stilt roots are developed on trees found in swampy habitats. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The leaves are leathery, elliptic to spoon-shaped measuring 9 - 30 cm long by 2.5 - 15 cm wide. They are deep to dark green above, greyish, pale green below, the midrib and secondary veins are raised below. The secondary veins curve towards the tip as they approach the margin. The angular twigs and rounded buds are both covered in short, flattened yellow hairs. |
| Flowers | Flowers are dioecious where the female and male flowers are found on the same individual. They are also borne on an inflorescence of up to 1 - 2.4 cm long, found along the axils of leaves or branchlets. Flowers are pale yellow, 6-lobed, measuring up to 3.5 mm long by 0.8-1mm wide, covered in hairs. |
| Fruit | The fruit is an elliptic, smooth, single-seeded berry measuring 18 - 44 mm long by 8 - 16 mm wide, siting on a shallow, smooth cupule. The fruit turns from greenish white to a shiny dark red upon maturity. |
| Habitat | Occurs in lowland to montane forest, often found in swamp forests, altitude 0 - 1500 m. <1> |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Timber & Products: Regarded as a minor timber species, the wood is used as medang to build houses. <2> |
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 | Moderate Water, Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate to Slow |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Waterlogged Soils (Does not Drain Site), Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Leathery |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical, Obovate) |
| Foliar Venation | Recticulate |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate, Acute |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
|---|
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Dioecious |
| Flower Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Inflorescence Type | Umbel |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Berry |
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Brown |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Few (1-5) |
References
| References | <1> de Kok, R.P.J. (2021). A revision of Litsea (Lauraceae) in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 73 (1): 154-157. <2> Lemmens, R.H.M.J., Soerianegara, I. & Wong, W.C. (1995). Plant Resources of South-East Asia, Timber trees: Minor commercial timbers. Leiden: Backhuys Publishers. pp. 320-321. |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31304 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5701 |
| 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. |
