Canthium horridum Blume, Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind. (1827)

Synonyms
Canthium horridum var. xanthocaulon (Miq.) Miq.
Canthium pauciflorum Blanco
Canthium scandens var. xanthocaulon Miq.
Canthium zizyphinum Wall. [Invalid]
Dondisia horrida (Blume) Korth.
Hyptianthera rhamnoides Zoll. & Moritzi
Plectronia horrida (Blume) K.Schum. [Illegitimate]
Plectronia horrida (Blume) Benth. & Hook.f. ex Kurz

Description
Under storey tree up to 13 m tall and 11 cm dbh. Stem with spines originating from leaf axils. Stipules ca. 3.5 mm long, triangular. Leaves opposite, simple, penni-veined, glabrous to hairy. Flowers ca. 4 mm diameter, white-yellow, with short corolla tube, placed in axillary bundles. Fruits ca. 11 mm diameter, green-yellow-orange, globose drupes.

Ecology
In secondary regrowth forests (especially along roads) and open sites in undisturbed mixed dipterocarp forests up to 600 m altitude. On hillsides and ridges, but also on alluvial sites. On sandy soils.

Uses
The fruits (boiled) are used to treat foot wounds.

Distribution
Southern China, Indo-China, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo (Sarawak, Brunei, Sabah, South- and East-Kalimantan), Philippines.

Local names
Borneo: Rukam, Terakang.