Bastard guelder
Premna serratifolia
Synonyms: Premna capitata, Premna corymbosa var. madagascariensis, Gumira abbreviata, Premna timoriana, Premna brongersmae, Premna obtusifolia var. pubescens, Premna integrifolia subsp. dentatolabium, Premna acuminatissima, Gumira foetida, Premna populifolia, Premna punctulata, Premna benthamiana, Premna papuana, Gumira divaricata, Premna corymbosa var. obtusifolia, Premna congesta, Premna dentatifolia, Premna serratifolia var. minor, Premna wrayi, Premna foetida, Premna dallachyana, Gumira punctulata, Gumira limbata, Premna atra, Premna membranifolia, Premna obtusifolia, Premna divaricata, Premna glandulosa, Premna lucidula, Premna obtusifolia var. minor, Premna tiliifolia, Premna guillauminii var. serrata, Gumira nitida, Premna media, Premna parviflora, Premna nauseosa, Premna paniculata, Gumira dallachyana, Premna corymbosa var. sambucina, Premna gaudichaudii, Premna woodii, Premna cyclophylla, Premna spinosa, Premna obtusifolia f. serratifolia, Premna angustior, Premna obtusifolia var. angustior, Premna glandulifera, Premna borneensis, Scrophularioides arborea, Premna integrifolia var. minor, Premna syringifolia, Premna nitida, Gumira nauseosa, Premna tahitensis var. rimatarensis, Premna sambucina, Gumira cyclophylla, Premna attenuata, Gumira ceramensis, Premna truncata, Gumira laevigata, Premna glabra, Gumira opulifolia, Gumira truncata, Premna perrottetii, Gumira integrifolia, Premna abbreviata, Premna obtusifolia var. madagascariensis, Premna tateana, Premna kunstleri, Premna integrifolia subsp. truncatolabium, Premna obtusifolia var. gaudichaudii, Premna integrifolia var. angustior, Premna glycycocca, Gumira domestica, Premna limbata, Premna lamii, Premna corymbosa, Premna ovata, Premna subcordata, Premna obtusifolia var. serratifolia, Premna benguetensis, Premna obtusifolia var. velutina, Gumira attenuata, Premna subglabra, Premna dallachyana var. obtusisepala, Premna leytensis, Premna dallachyana var. typica, Premna ceramensis, Premna sumatrana, Premna opulifolia, Premna hircina, Premna tahitensis var. rapensis, Premna integrifolia var. obtusifolia, Premna octonervia, Premna corymbosa var. minor, Premna macrophylla, Premna integrifolia
Gallery
Botanical Description
Premna serratifolia, the bastard guelder or coastal premna, is a small evergreen tree or shrub in the Lamiaceae family widely distributed across the coastal and lowland tropics of the Old World, from East Africa and Madagascar through southern and southeast Asia to southern China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, northern Australia and many Pacific islands. It grows in beach forest, mangrove margins, coastal scrub and disturbed lowland forest, reaching 2 to 7 metres in height with a much-branched, sometimes scandent crown and grey-brown bark. The opposite, simple leaves are short-petiolate, broadly ovate to elliptic, 2.5 to 8.5 centimetres long, leathery, glabrous and glossy above with entire or slightly serrate margins and an acute to obtuse apex; the foliage emits an unpleasant odour when crushed. Small bisexual, greenish-white to creamy flowers are borne in dense, terminal, much-branched corymbose panicles 4 to 12 centimetres across; each flower has a short tubular four-lobed corolla and four exserted stamens. The fruit is a small, fleshy, globose drupe 4 to 6 millimetres in diameter, ripening from green through red to purplish-black, seated on the persistent cup-shaped calyx, and attractive to birds.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.