Pleomele angustifolia (Medik.) N.E.Br.

Asparagaceae

Brown, N.E. (1914) Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, Kew : 277.

Native Dracaena

Seldom exceeding 30 cm dbh. Blaze odour may resemble that of freshly shelled peas (Pisum sativum).

Leaves sessile, leaf blades about 17-40 x 2-3 cm, clasping the twig at the base. Midrib usually poorly defined with numerous longitudinal veins running parallel to the margins.

Panicles about 15-40 cm long. Flowers in pairs. Pedicels about 5-10 mm long. Perianth united into a tube almost as long as the lobes. Perianth about 15-30 mm long.

Fruit globular, about 10-15 mm diam. Seeds ca.hemispherical, about 8-9 mm diam. Testa smooth.

Roots bright orange. First pair of leaves about 40-50 x 4-5 mm, linear, finely acute at the apex with 3-5 longitudinally parallel veins. Leaves clasp the stem at the base. At the tenth leaf stage: leaves linear, sessile, apex finely pointed, veins numerous, running ca. parallel from base to apex. Seed germination time 34 days.

Occurs in NT, CYP and NEQ. Altitudinal range from sea level to 600 m. Grows in lowland rain forest and monsoon forest usually at low elevations and often close to the sea. Also occurs in Malesia.

Widely cultivated as an ornamental pot plant.

Terminalis angustifolius Medik., Theodora : 83(1786), Type: Description and plate, Rumphius, Herb. Amboin. 4:81 t. 35 (1743).