God's crown (Phaleria macrocarpa)

God's crown (Phaleria macrocarpa) is a plant species in Thymelaeaceae, a dense tree, taproot and yellow, cylindrical stem, rough, gummy surface, brown bark, many branches and sympodial, white wood.

P. macrocarpa leaves sit opposite each other, oval in shape, pinnate veins, smooth surface, green in color, pointed tip, flat margin, 7-10 cm long and 3-5 cm wide. Compound flowers, long trumpet-shaped, green and white to maroon in color, grow spread out from the main stem to the branches.

Round-shaped fruit, 6 cm long, green when unripe and red when ripe. Poisonous white round pit. Each fruit has 1-2 seeds, oval, brown and anatropic per fruit. Crown gods grow at an elevation of 10-1200 meters with a productive age of 10-20 years.

This plant contains flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, phenolic hydroquinones, tannins, steroids, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes.

Plants are used as a detoxifier to neutralize toxins in the body, a source of antibacterial and antiviral, boost the immune system, increase vitality, reduce blood sugar levels, reduce blood clotting.

Promote blood circulation throughout the body and prevent blockages in blood vessels, reduce cholesterol levels and reduce fat accumulation on blood vessel walls, reduce levels of risk of coronary heart disease. Contains anti-inflammatory, helps reduce pain in case of bleeding or swelling and antihistamines.

TAXON

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Malvales
Family: Thymelaeaceae
Genus: Phaleria Jack in Malayan Misc. 2(7): 59 (1822)
Species: Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff.) Boerl. in Handl. Fl. Ned. Ind. 3: 111 (1900)

HOMOTYPIC SYNONYMS

Drimyspermum macrocarpum Scheff. in Ann. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg 1: 46 (1876)

HETEROTYPIC SYNONYMS

Phaleria calantha Gilg in Nova Guinea 8: 411 (1910)
Phaleria papuana Warb. ex K.Schum. & Lauterb. in Fl. Schutzgeb. Südsee: 460 (1900)
Phaleria papuana var. wichmannii (Valeton) Backer in Bekn. Fl. Java 4a(2; 77): 2 (1942)
Phaleria wichmannii Valeton in Icon. Bogor. 4: t. 371 (1913)

PUBLICATIONS

Karthigeyan, K., Pandey, R.P. & Mao, A.A. (eds.) (2023). Flora of Andaman and Nicobar Islands 2: 1-689. Botanical Survey of India. Ministry of environment, forest and climate change.

Nurtjahya, E. & al. (2026). Flowering Plants of Bangka Island: Native and Introduced. Acta Botanica Hungarica 68: 127-156.

Pandey, R.P. & Dilwakar, P.G. (2008). An integrated check-list flora of Andaman and Nicobar islands, India. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 32: 403-500.

Van Steenis, C.G.G.J. (ed.) (1960-1972). Flora Malesiana 6: 1-1023. Noordhoff-Kolff N.V., Djakarta.

VERNACULAR NAME

Aceh: Boh
English: God's crown, Crown of God
Indonesian: Mahkota dewa, Obat dewa, Pau, Anggota dewan
Java: Makuta dewo, Makuto mewo, Makuto ratu, Makuto rojo
Melayu: Simalakama

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