BANDICOOT BERRY / COMMON TREE VINE (Leea Indica.)
This is a shrub or tree that can grow up to 16 meter tall. Its alternate stalked twice or thrice pinnate leaves are 45-60 cm long, with many leaflets. Its greenish white flowers are found in a branched flowering shoot. The flowers attract many bee, butterfly and wasp species. Its round fruits are purple-black when ripe. These are eaten by many forest edge bird species, especially bulbuls.
It grows in wet areas of primary and secondary forests, from sea level up to mountains 2500 meter in altitude. It can be found in Malaysia, Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Thailand, Brunei, northern Australia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji. It is commonly encountered when trekking in Singapore forests.
The tender shoots and fruits are edible. However, it had been reported that the berries when ingested do sting the mouth. The leaves are used for treating body pains, cuts, fever, skin complaints, vertigo and wounds. Ores are treated with a decoction of the shoots. Body pains, fevers and insomnia are treated by beating the body with leafy shoots. The roots are viewed to be antopyrectic and diaphoretic, and are used to relive colic diarrhoea, dysentery, muscular pain and to induce pespiration. Additionally, they are also utilized in concoctions to treat leucorrhoea, intestinal and uterine cancer.
It grows in wet areas of primary and secondary forests, from sea level up to mountains 2500 meter in altitude. It can be found in Malaysia, Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Thailand, Brunei, northern Australia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji. It is commonly encountered when trekking in Singapore forests.
The tender shoots and fruits are edible. However, it had been reported that the berries when ingested do sting the mouth. The leaves are used for treating body pains, cuts, fever, skin complaints, vertigo and wounds. Ores are treated with a decoction of the shoots. Body pains, fevers and insomnia are treated by beating the body with leafy shoots. The roots are viewed to be antopyrectic and diaphoretic, and are used to relive colic diarrhoea, dysentery, muscular pain and to induce pespiration. Additionally, they are also utilized in concoctions to treat leucorrhoea, intestinal and uterine cancer.