Premna parasitica Blume

de Kok, R. 2013. The genus Premna L. (Lamiaceae) in the Flora Malesiana area. Kew Bulletin 68: 55. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-013-9433-5

Morphology General Habit

Tree or climbing shrub, 5 – 11 (− 26) m tall

Morphology Twigs

Twigs without an interpetiolar ridge, densely hairy when young, becoming more glabrous as they mature, base of young twigs surrounded by bracts

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite to alternate, grouped together at the end of the twigs, elliptic to rounded, 15 – 24 × 8 – 18 cm, apex rounded to acute, base cuneate to cordate, margins entire, glabrous or velutinous (Bali only), pale yellowish green; glands black to yellow, sessile, many; venation palmate at base, pinnate higher up, 4 – 6 main side veins; petioles 0.5 – 3.5 cm long, channelled, glabrous to covered with curly hairs, becoming more glabrous as they mature or remaining velutinous (Bali only)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences 5 – 25 cm long, corymbose cymes, velutinous to sparsely hairy; bracteoles linear, < 1.5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers: calyx 4-lobed, lobes almost isomorphic, two-lipped; flowering calyx 2 – 2.2 mm long, outer surface glabrous; lobes 0.8 – 1 mm long, apex rounded, back lobes slightly larger and more fused; glands yellow-white, sessile; fruiting calyx similar to flowering calyx

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla tube 2.5 – 3.5 mm long, lobes almost isomorphic, glabrous apart from some hairs at the apex, greenish-white, scentless; central lobe of lower lip 1.5 – 2.5 × 1 – 1.5 mm, oblong, apex rounded, reflexed when mature, green; other lobes 1.5 – 2 × 1 – 1.5 mm, apex rounded, reflexed when mature

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 2.5 – 3 mm long, greatly exceeding tube, not didynamous, white; anthers rounded, 0.2 – 0.5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary globose, c. 1 mm diam., glabrous; style 4 – 5 mm long, lobes 0.5 – 1 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits clavoid 3 – 4 × 1.5 – 1.8 mm, with glands, green violet, endocarp smooth; seeds four with only one developing into maturity.

Distribution

Java and Bali, introduced at least once to South Sumatra in the 19th century (see Map 5).

Ecology

Found in small numbers growing along forest edges, sometimes on old lava flows; 300 – 1700 m.

Conservation

Vulnerable (VU B2 a+b iii + iv). This species is reported to occur in small populations from the whole of Java. However, most collections from this species are old (the last specimens were collected in 1961) and from areas which are now for the most part deforested. Given this, the conservation status of Vulnerable has been assigned. The Bali population is morphologically distinct (see Notes below) and has only been collected twice and not since 1958. It is reported to occur in small populations from areas which are now for the most part deforested. Given this information, the conservation status of the Bali populations must be considered as Critically Endangered (CR Bi-ii a).

Phenology

Flowering from October to February; fruiting from December to January. Fruits of this species are sometimes infected by an unknown entity which causes 3 – 4 cm long circular- or cigar-shaped galls (Junghun 519, Koorders 9988) which resemble the fruits of Cyrtandra J. R. Forst. & G. Forst. in the Gesneriaceae.

Vernacular

Areuj ki hoedyam or Areuj ki djati (Sundanese); Djati moelje (Javanese); Moempol (Mandurese).

Note

The two known specimens from Bali have, unlike those from Java, a velutinous leaf under surface. This variation has been formally described by Moldenke (1954a) as Premna parasitica var. hatusimae. Both collections are sterile and it is therefore not possible to determine if these represent a distinct different species or just minor variation within P. parasitica.

Use

In east Java the leaves are used by woman after childbirth.