Symplocos celastrifolia
# Symplocos celastrifolia

Symplocos celastrifolia is a plant in the family Symplocaceae, native to Southeast Asia. The specific epithet celastrifolia refers to the leaves' resemblance to those of species in the genus Celastrus.

## Description

Symplocos celastrifolia grows as a shrub or tree up to 30 metres (100 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 60 cm (24 in). The grey or brown bark is smooth, becoming scaly. The curved twigs develop lenticels with age. The leaves are elliptic to ovate and measure up to 8 cm (3 in) long, occasionally up to 12 cm (5 in). The inflorescences feature racemes up to 9.5 cm (4 in) long and bear many white flowers. The fruits become purple blue when ripe.

## Distribution and habitat

Symplocos celastrifolia is broadly distributed in Southeast Asia: in Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi, the Maluku Islands, New Guinea and the Philippines. Its habitat is lowland forests, sometimes near the sea, or inland by rivers, at elevations to 1,000 m (3,300 ft).

