Maranthes corymbosa Blume

Chrysobalanaceae

Blume, C.L. von (1827) Bijdragen tot de Flora van Nederlandsch Indie No. 7 : 89. Type: in silvis prope Tjiradjas Provinciae Krawang.

Sea Bean; Bean, Sea; Parinari

Bark quite hard and horny to cut.

Leaf blades about 7.5-12 x 3.5-6 cm. Two raised, shallow, cup-shaped glands present on the upper surface of the petiole at its junction with the leaf blade.

Petals about 5-7 mm long. Staminal filaments shortly united near the base, but not continuous, one section composed of staminodes only. Ovary densely hairy, attached to the side of the calyx tube. Style lateral, attached to the base of the ovary.

Fruits +/- ovoid, about 3.4-4 x 2.5-3 cm. Seed about 20 x 10 mm, surrounded by brown hairs and a thick hard endocarp. Pericarp fleshy.

Cotyledons obovate, about 12-18 mm long, fleshy, without venation. At the tenth leaf stage: leaves obovate, apex acuminate, a few downy hairs may remain on the upper surface of the midrib; a pair of crater-like glands occur on the petiole near its apex; stipules triangular, hairy, toothed at the apex. Seed germination time 44 to 48 days.

Occurs in NT and is widespread in CYP from Torres Strait to Princess Charlotte Bay. Altitudinal range from sea level to about 200 m. Grows in monsoon forest and well developed rain forest but is particularly abundant in gallery forest where it probably reaches its best development. Also occurs in Malesia, the Solomon Islands and the Caroline Islands.

Stem bark material of this species was active against some tumors. Collins et al. (1990).

Parinari corymbosum (Blume) Miq., Flora Indiae Batavae 1(1): 356(1855). Parinari griffithianum Benth., Niger Flora : 334(1849), Type: A Malacca plant gathered by the late Dr. Griffith.