Alphitonia excelsa (Fenzl) Reiss. ex Endl., Gen. Pl. (1840)

Latin for 'large or emergent'.

Synonyms
Alphitonia excelsa var. acutifolia Braid
Alphitonia incana (Roxb.) Kurz
Alphitonia philippinensis Braid
Ceanothus excelsa (Fenzl) Steud.
Colubrina excelsa Fenzl
Rhamnus incanus Roxb.

Description
Small tree up to 17 m tall and 23 cm dbh. Bad smelling stem when cut. Stipules small, dropped early. Leaves alternate, simple, penni-veined, whitish below, glabrous to hairy below. Flowers ca. 4 mm diameter, white-yellow, placed in panicles. Fruits ca. 13 mm diameter, purple-black, drupes with seeds in red pulp.

Ecology
In heavily disturbed regrowth forests from coastal to sub-montane up to 1500 m altitude. Often along roads, on hillsides and ridges and along rivers and streams. Mostly on poor sandy soils, but also on clay.

Uses
The sap from under the bark is collected and used against skin diseases by mixing it with bath-water. The wood is used for small construction work.

Distribution
Borneo (throughout the island) to New Guinea and Australia.

Local names
Borneo: Bakudita, Balek angin, Balik angin, Lengi'dan ba'on, Meagang, Pati yata, Pereng-pereng, Petiata, Pokudata, Pokudita.