Creek Premna, Coastal premna
Premna serratifolia

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A spreading shrub. It grows 2-4 m tall. It can be 12 m tall. The leaves are opposite and large. They are oval and shiny green. They are leathery and have prominent veins. The midrib is raised underneath the leaf. The flowers are in clusters near the ends of branches. They are greenish white. Fruit are small and green. They turn black at maturity.

Used in medicine. Also put in the family Verbenaceae. The leaves possibly improve a mother's milk supply.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs in coastal vine thickets and on dunes. It grows in sandy soil along sea coasts and mangrove forests. It grows from sea level to 500 m altitude in Samoa. In Fiji it is usually below 200 m altitude. It grows in sandy soils and limestone. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bougainville, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Brunei, Cambodia, Caroline Islands, China, Chuuk, East Africa, East Timor, Fiji, FSM, French Polynesia, Guam, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Marquesas, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mayotte, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pohnpei, Rotuma, Samoa, SE Asia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yap

How it is used for food

The seeds are eaten by children in Tuvalu. The ripe fruit have been eaten with yam in Vanuatu. The leaves and tender shoots are cooked and eaten as greens. They are mixed with other vegetables and eaten with rice of meat. They are used to add flavour. The leaves are chewed as a substitute for betel leaves. The fruit is eaten mixed with rice in the Andaman Islands.

The ripe fruit are often eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Adau, Agetha, Agnimanda, Agnimanthah, Aguyabat, Alagua-dagat, Aldas, Aloalo, Aran, Arani, Bachanige, Bagr, Baloh, Bhut-bhiravi, Bhuto bairi, Buas laut, Buas-buas, Chamari, Dhakandhaa, Dieng-lah-marwai, Eegigida, False elder, Gaebbu nelli, Ganiari, Ganioli, Genderi, Ghebboon nellie, Ginaveli, Gineri, Headache tree, Idibinerr, Kaar, Kayu buas, Khara-narvel, Ki pahan, Laban putih, Lambuas, Mara, Mooney do, Mothi-arni, Muney kiray, Munna, Munnay, Padda narva, Pohon malbo, Pohon premna batas, Pohon premna pantai, Pomantii, Singkel, Singkil alas, Takkite, Te ango, Ustabunda, Varvara, Yamgurum

Synonyms

Citharexylum paniculatum Poir. [Illegitimate]; Cornutia corymbosa Burm. f.; Gumira abbreviata (Miq.) Kuntze; Gumira attenuata (R.Br.) Kuntze; Gumira integrifolia Hassk. [Illegitimate]; Gumira laevigata (Miq.) Kuntze; Gumira opulifolia (Miq.) Kuntze; Gumira truncata (Turcz.) Kuntze; Premna abbreviata Miq.; Premna angustior (C.B.Clarke) Ridl.; Premna attenuata R.Br.; Premna benthamiana Domin; Premna corymbosa (Burm.f.) Schauer [Illegitimate]; Premna corymbosa var. obtusifolia (R.Br.) H.R.Fletcher; Premna corymbosa var. sambucina (Wall. ex Schauer) Moldenke; Premna gaudichaudii Schauer; Premna glabra A.Gray ex Maxim.; Premna glycycocca F.Muell.; Premna guillauminii var. serrata Moldenke; Premna hircina Wall.; Premna integrifolia Willd. [Illegitimate]; Premna integrifolia L. [Illegitimate]; Premna integrifolia var. angustior C.B.Clarke; Premna integrifolia var. minor Ridl.; Premna integrifolia var. obtusifolia (R. Br.) C. P'ei; Premna laevigata Miq.; Premna littoralis King & Gamble; Premna media R. Br.; Premna nauseosa Blanco; Premna obtusifolia R. Br.; Premna obtusifolia var. gaudichaudii (Schauer) Moldenke; Premna obtusifolia var. velutina Benth.; Premna opulifolia Miq.; Premna ovata R.Br.; Premna sambucina Wall. ex Schauer; and others Premna serratifolia var. minor (Ridl.) A. Rajendran & P. Daniel; Premna spinosa Roxb.; Premna subcordata Turcz.; Premna tahitensis var. rapensis F. Br.; Premna tahitensis var. rimatarensis F. Br.; Premna truncata Turcz.; Scrophularioides arborea G. Forst. [Invalid];