Micromelum minutum

Micromelum minutum
Micromelum minutum fruit and foliage
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Subfamily: Aurantioideae
Genus: Micromelum
Species: M. minutum
Binomial name
Micromelum minutum
(G.Forst.) Wight & Arn.

Micromelum minutum is a species of small trees or shrubs, of the citrus plant family Rutaceae. They grow naturally from northern and eastern Australia, through Malesia and the South Pacific to Indochina and India. They grow as an understorey plants in humid forests including rainforest, montane forest and gallery forest.[1]

They grow as tall shrubs or small trees to 8 m tall with pinnate leaves approximately 30 cm (12 in) long. Green or cream flowers are followed by ovate berries about 1 cm (0 in) long that change colour from green to bright red passing through shades of yellow and orange. As the fruits ripen at different rates the plants often display distinctive clusters of multicoloured berries.[2]

The species has a number of common names throughout its range including Lime Berry, Micromelum, Tulibas Tilos, Talafalu and Chememar.[1][3]

The species has traditionally been used medicinally throughout its range and recent scientific analysis has revealed a range of physiologically active compounds including anticoagulants, anti-carcinogens and anti-bacterials.[1][4][5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hyland, B. P. M.; Whiffin, T.; Zich, F. A.; et al. (Dec 2010). "Factsheet – Micromelum minutum" Check |url= value (help). Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants. Edition 6.1, online version [RFK 6.1]. Cairns, Australia: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), through its Division of Plant Industry; the Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research; the Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  2. ↑ "Micromelum minutum " (website). The Society for Growing Australian Plants Townsville Branch Inc. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "Micromelum minutum (J.G. Forster) Wight & Arn." (website). ASEAN Tropical Plant Database. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  4. ↑ Wiart, Christophe (2006). Medicinal Plants of Asia and the Pacific (Google books page page link). CRC Press. pp. 223–4. ISBN 1420006800; ISBN 9781420006803. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  5. ↑ Cambie, R. C.; Ash, J. (1994). Fijian Medicinal Plants (Google books link). CSIRO Publishing. pp. 2031–2. ISBN 0643102957; ISBN 9780643102958. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
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