Symplocos fasciculata

Symplocos fasciculata is a tree in the family Symplocaceae, native to tropical Asia. The specific epithet fasciculata means 'bundled' and refers to the inflorescence.

Description
Symplocos fasciculata grows up to 23 m tall, occasionally to 35 m, with a trunk diameter of up to 45 cm. The smooth bark may be brown or grey, occasionally green. The twigs are somewhat zig-zag. The papery leaves, of varying shapes, measure up to 16.5 cm long. The inflorescences feature fascicles of bundled racemes bearing white flowers.

Distribution and habitat
Symplocos fasciculata is native to the Nicobar Islands, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Java, the Philippines and Sulawesi. Its habitat is kerangas and mixed dipterocarp forests, at elevations to 1700 m.

Uses
In Java, the bark and leaves of Symplocos fasciculata are used to make dyes, including for batik. In local medicine, a powdered form of the bark is used as a remedy for sore eyes.