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Melicope triphylla

(Lam.) Merr.

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(c) Han-Ting Liu, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Han-Ting Liu

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) liushengyu, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

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Melicope triphylla is a plant in the family Rutaceae. The specific epithet triphylla is from the Greek meaning 'three leaf', referring to the trifoliolate leaves.

Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows 2-6 m tall. Often male and female flowers are on different trees. The leaves usually have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are oval and 3-7 cm long by 2-6 cm wide. The fruit are a flattened round shape and 3-5 mm across.

Edible Uses

The leaves are cooked.

Traditional Uses

The leaves are cooked.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The dried leaves are heated over a fire and the sap taken orally in the treatment of tuberculosis. The leaves, combined with the leaves, bark and fruit of Citrus species, are used in the treatment of stomach pain, constipation and diarrhoea; and also for the removal of intestinal worms.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows at low elevations.

Where It Grows

Asia, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, New Guinea, Pacific, Philippines, Ryukyu, SE Asia, Taiwan, Vanuatu,

Cultivation

Plants are usually dioecious. Both male and female forms will need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Synonyms

Euodia anisodora Lauterb. & K. Schum.Euodia awadan Hatus.Euodia incerta BlumeEuodia laxireta Merr.Euodia microsperma F. M. BaileyEuodia minahassae Teijsm. & Binn.Euodia philippinensis Merr. & L. M. PerryEuodia triphylla (Lam.) DC.Melicope awadan (Hatus.) Ohwi & Hatus.Melicope curranii Merr.Melicope densiflora Merr.Melicope gjellerupi Lauterb.Melicope kanehirae Hatus.Melicope luzonensis Engl. ex PerkinsMelicope mahonyi F. M. BaileyMelicope mindanaensis ElmerMelicope monophylla Merr. Melicope nitida Merr.Melicope obtusa Merr.Melicope odorata ElmerMelicope rupestris Lauterb.Zanthoxylum triphyllum (Lam.) G. Don

Also Known As

Bangelebute, Butsu mamsil, Wadan

References (2)

  • Cabalion, P. and Morat, P., 1983, Introduction le vegetation, la flore et aux noms vernaculaires de l'ile de Pentcoste (Vanuatu), In: Journal d'agriculture traditionnelle et de botanique appliquee JATBA Vol. 30, 3-4 (As Euodia triphylla)
  • Martin, F. W., et al, 1987, Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics. USDA Handbook 642 p 78

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