Lepisanthes rubiginosa

Lepisanthes rubiginosa, also known as mertajam, is a plant species in the lychee family found in northern India, Indochina, Malesia and northwest Australia.

Botany

It is a shrub, or small tree, that can grow up to 16 meters tall and has compound leaves with two to nine pairs of leaflets. Its flowers are yellow-white with a sweet scent and its fruit ripens to a dark purple/black. Its name rubiginosa is Latin for rust-coloured referning to the hairs on the twigs and leaflets.

Use

The leaves can be used as a poultice to treat itches or made into a decoction that can be drank to cure fever.