Morinda citrifolia

Morinda citrifolia L., Sp. Pl. (1753)

Latin for 'leaves like those of Citrus'.

Synonyms
Morinda angustifolia Roth [Illegitimate]
Morinda aspera Wight & Arn.
Morinda bracteata Roxb. [Illegitimate]
Morinda chachuca Buch.-Ham.
Morinda chrysorhiza (Thonn.) DC.
Morinda citrifolia var. bracteata (Roxb.) Kurz
Morinda citrifolia var. bracteata (Roxb.) Hook. f.
Morinda citrifolia var. elliptica Hook.f.
Morinda citrifolia var. potteri O.Deg.
Morinda citrifolia forma potteri (O.Deg.) H.St.John
Morinda coreia var. stenophylla (Spreng.) Chandrab.
Morinda elliptica (Hook.f.) Ridl.
Morinda ligulata Blanco
Morinda littoralis Blanco
Morinda macrophylla Desf.
Morinda mudia Buch.-Ham.
Morinda multiflora Roxb.
Morinda nodosa Buch.-Ham.
Morinda quadrangularis G.Don
Morinda stenophylla Spreng.
Morinda teysmanniana Miq.
Morinda tinctoria Noronha
Morinda tinctoria var. aspera (Wight & Arn.) Hook.f.
Morinda tinctoria var. multiflora (Roxb.) Hook.f.
Morinda tomentosa B.Heyne ex Roth
Morinda zollingeriana Miq.
Platanocephalus orientalis Crantz
Psychotria chrysorhiza Thonn.
Samama citrifolia (L.) Kuntze
Sarcocephalus leichhardtii F.Muell.

Description
Shrub up to 9 m tall and 11 cm dbh. Stipules ca. 15 mm long, with rounded tip. Leaves opposite, simple, penni-veined, glabrous. Flowers ca. 7 mm diameter, white, with corolla tube, placed in compact flower heads. Fruits ca. 72 mm long, green-yellow, elongate fruiting body consisting of many seeds.

Ecology
Coastal along beaches and in open secondary forests up to 100 m altitude. On sandy soils.

Uses
The roots and stem are used to produce a yellow dye. The leaves have medicinal properties and are used against tension (place on affected parts), bruises (place on affected parts) and as an antidote against blowpipe poison. The fruits are edible.

Distribution
From Sri Lanka and India to southern China and Japan, throughout the Malesian region and into the Pacific and Australia. In Borneo collected in Sarawak, Sabah, West- and East-Kalimantan.

Local names
Borneo: Bamkoro, Bangkudu, Bangkuru, Bengkal putih, Bingkuduk, Engkudu hutan, Mengkudu.