|
 Erect
shrubs or small trees 1.5-5 m tall, branches and petioles densely
covered with a mixture of short, appressed, laciniate scales 0.5-1
mm long and longer lanceolate scale 1.5-5 mm long. Leaves elliptic
to elliptic-ovate, 4-11 cm long, 1.3-4 cm wide, 5 (-7)-nerved, upper
surface strigose to scabrous, lower surface sericeous but with a
mixture of scales on the nerves like those of young branches,
margins entire, apex acute, base obtuse to rounded, petioles 5-12 mm
long. Inflorescences 2-7-flowered, pedicels 10-12 mm long in fruit,
bracts and bracteoles elliptic, lanceolate, or ovate, 1-2.2 cm long,
0.5-1.3 cm wide, early deciduous; hypanthium densely covered with
imbricate, lanceolate, ciliolate scales; calyx 5-lobed, triangular-lanceolate,
0.7-2 cm long; petals usually 5, pink, 2.5-3.2 cm long, 1.5-2.3 cm
wide; anthers of larger stamens 10-11 mm long; anthers of smaller
stamens 8.5-10 Medical use: This plant enjoys a long tradition of
use as a uterine tone for female health care; usually following
childbirth to strengthen the womb and accelerate healing. Its
flowers, seeds, even leaves are sweet and astringent, reduce white
discharge, even diarrhoea and indigestion. Senduduk can also be
applied externally to bruises, haemorrhoids and soreness of the leg. |
