Glochidion littorale Blume, Bijdr. (1825)

Latin for 'coastal'.

Synonyms
Agyneia impuber Wall. [Invalid]
Bradleia littorea (Blume) Steud.
Bradleia obtusa Wall.
Diasperus litoralis (Blume) Kuntze
Glochidion littorale var. caudatum Airy Shaw
Glochidion littorale var. culminicola Airy Shaw
Phyllanthus littoralis (Blume) M¨šll.Arg.

Diagnostics
Shrub up to 10 m tall and 15 cm dbh. Stipules ca. 1.5 mm long, lost early. Leaves alternate, simple, penni-veined, glabrous, roundish, thick leathery. Flowers ca. 4 mm diameter, green-white-yellowish, placed in axillary bundles. Fruits ca. 12 mm long, pink-reddish, dehiscent capsules, seeds with orange-red arils.

Description
Shrubs up to 10 m high; flowering twigs 1.5-2 mm thick; glabrous. Leaves: stipules triangular, 1.3-1.8 by 0.7-2 mm, caducous; petiole 3-4 mm long; blade elliptic to obovate, 2.2-9.2 by 1.9-5 cm, length/width ratio 1.2-1.8, coriaceous, base (rounded to) shortly attenuate, slightly asymmetric, margin flat, apex emarginate to rounded, often drying greenish above, brown underneath; venation slightly raised above, raised below, nerves 7 or 8 per side, sometimes yellow, veins coarsely reticulate. Inflorescences fascicles of up to 5 flowers, two or three of which pistillate. Flowers: sepals 6, basally united, margins usually hyaline. Staminate flowers 4.5-5.5 mm in diameter; pedicel 5.5-6 mm long, light green; calyx light green, tube 0.8-1 mm long, lobes elliptic to obovate, outer 3.6-4.2 by 1.8-1.9 mm, inner 3.2-3.4 by 1.5-1.6, usually folded, apically somewhat hooded; stamens 5 or 6, androecium c. 1.4 mm long, stamens c. 1.1 mm long, connective teeth 0.2-0.3 mm long. Pistillate flowers 3-3.5 mm in diameter; pedicel 2-6.5 mm in fruit; calyx outer lobes triangular to elliptic, 1.3-2.3 by 1.4-2 mm, inner lobes elliptic 1.3-2.7 by 0.6-2.7 mm; ovary 10-14-locular, c. 2.7 by 2.3 mm high, longitudinally ribbed; ovules superposed; stigmas in a cone, c. 2 mm long, 11-14-dentate. Fruits round, apically flattened and depressed in centre, basally sometimes also flattened, 1.4-1.8 by 0.8-1.3 cm high, not lobed, sutures depressed, pinkish-whitish to dark pink; wall woody, up to 1 mm thick; column c. 12 mm long, spindle-shaped. Seeds c. 6 by 4.5 mm (a single ovule developing per locule) to 2.5-3.5 by c. 4.5 mm (both ovules developing), red. [from Flora Malesiana]

Ecology
Coastal or tidal regions with open (disturbed) vegetation types, also in keranga forest and swamps up to 100 m altitude. Usually on poor sandy soils.

Uses
The root is used medicinal as mouthwash for babies. The fruits are edible.

Distribution
India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Philippines, Celebes.

Local names
Borneo: Kabassi-kabassi, Obar-obar, Sakah-sakah, Sakah-sakah bini.
Thailand: Nok non thale (Narathiwat), Man Pu (Peninsular).