Ardisia helferiana is a species of flowering plant in the genus Ardisia in the family Primulaceae. Growing as a shrub, it occurs in Mainland Southeast Asia. The plant is used for food, fuel and medicine.
| Ardisia helferiana | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Primulaceae |
| Genus: | Ardisia |
| Species: | A. helferiana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ardisia helferiana | |
| Synonyms | |
Description, habitat, distribution
editIt grows some 1-3m high, with leaves grouped at the top of the trunk.[4] It is found in littoral forests in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar.[2] In the coastal Sattahip area, Chonburi Province, eastern Thailand, the shrub is found in swamp forest (permanently wet, stagnant, with tall trees and low scrubby understorey) and in evergreen forest in undisturbed upland areas, usually very rocky and quite steep.[5]
Vernacular names
editThai common names include somkung khon and kang pla.[6] In Cambodia common names include chhnôk thma:t ba:t, and chum'pu: préi (chum'pu:="apple-rose", préi="wild", Khmer).[4]
Uses
editAmongst villagers living around the Bung Khong Long Non-Hunting Area, of Bueng Khong Long District, northeastern Thailand, the ripe fruit is eaten from March to June, while young leaves are eaten fresh or as soft-boiled vegetables from March to September.[7]
In Cambodia, the fruit is eaten, while the wood is used as firewood.[4]
Indigenous medical use of the plant is reported by the Chief Herbalist at Kungkrabaen Royal Development Study Center, Chanthaburi province, eastern Thailand, to treat fever a decoction of the root is prepared and given to drink.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Ardisia helferiana Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 42(2): 86 (1873)". International Plant Name Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- ^ a b c "Ardisia helferiana Kurz". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Science. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- ^ "Ardisia helferiana Kurz is an accepted name". The Plant List. theplantlist.org. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- ^ a b c Pauline Dy Phon (2000). Plants Utilised In Cambodia/Plantes utilisées au Cambodge. Phnom Penh: Imprimerie Olympic. pp. 14, 15.
- ^ Maxwell, J.F. (1974). "Vascular flora of the Sattahip area". Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany): 49–87. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- ^ a b Wongsatit Chuakul; Noppamas Soonthornchareonnon; Sommai Sappakun (2006). "Medicinal plants used in Kungkrabaen Royal Development Study Center, Chanthaburi province". Thai Journal of Phytopharmacy. 13 (1): 27–42. S2CID 80276207.
- ^ Siriwan Suksri; Siraprapha Premcharoen; Chitraporn Thawatphan; Suvit Sangthongprow (2005). "Ethnobotany in Bung Khong Long Non-Hunting Area, Northeast Thailand" (PDF). Kasetsart J. (Nat. Sci.). 39: 519–33. Retrieved 1 May 2020.