The fruit of Shrubby Dillenia abruptly opens to release its seeds. In it native Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo, it is known as Simpoh Air and used as a hairwash.
Fruit of the Sandpiper Vine. These are small pods which open to release seeds. Photo from the Zamboa Rainforest lodge, central Panama. Dilleniaceae Family.
Jeniang, Kedah, Malaysia.Tetracera indica (Christm. & Panz.) Merr. Dilleniaceae. CN: [Malay - Akar mempelas, Rompet], Akar empelas, Areng ki asahan, Areuy ki asahan, Bo, Sandpaper vine. Distribution - Myanmar, southward to Thailand, Indo-China, Peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra, Bangka, Java, Madura). Habitat - open places ranging from forest margin. open forest, bushland, to recently abandoned fields up to ca 600 m altitude; very common and widespread. A small twisting scrambling shrub to large liana literally tying the forest trees together and forming canopy bridges for many aboreal animals. Liana with distinctive smooth reddish bark with slight peeling. The dried leaves with its rough surface is used by natives as sandpaper to polish wooden handicrafts such as carved weapon sheaths and hilts, while the paste prepared by pounding the leaves applied to the skin to alleviate itchiness. Unresolved synonym(s) used for the species:Tetracera assa DC.Assa exotica J.F.Gmel. Assa indica Christm. & Panz. Tetracera dichotoma BlumeRef. and suggested reading:FRIM Flora Databasewww.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/tro-50225611www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-2434869www.globinmed.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=a...
