Mountain sage tree
Hymenodictyon orixense

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A tree. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 25 m tall. The bark is smooth and grey. The leaves are often grouped near the ends of branches. The leaves are narrowly oval and 9-22 cm long by 6-14 cm wide. The flowers are near the ends of branches. They are white or brown. The fruit is an oval capsule 2-3 cm long. There are many flat seeds.

The leaf is used as medicine to relieve tooth ache.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in forests along rivers between 100-1,700 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Medicine

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Bridle couch tree, Dumsa-gyaw, Itthilei, Kadappu, Khu-than, Kuthan, Mai-son-pu, Malam kall, Nicham kadambu, Nirkadambam, Ovlok, Peruntholi, Pohon aligango, Pohon sage gunung, Vellai-kadambu, Vellakadamba, Vetkadampu

Synonyms

Benteca rheedei Roem. & Schult.; Cinchona excelsa Roxb.; Cinchona orixensis Roxb.; Exostema philippicum Schult.; Hymenodictyon excelsum (Roxb.) Wall.; Hymenodictyon excelsum (Roxb.) DC.; Hymenodictyon rheedei (Roem. & Schult.) M. R. Almeida & S. M. Almeida; Hymenodictyon thyrsiflorum Wall.; Hymenodictyon utile Wight;