About Eurycoma longifolia Jack
Eurycoma longifolia Jack is a medium-sized, slender shrub that can reach 10 m (33 ft) in height. It is often unbranched, and has reddish brown petioles. Its leaves are compound and even pinnate, growing up to 1 m (39 in) in length. Each compound leaf holds 30 to 40 leaflets, which are lanceolate to obovate-lanceolate in shape. Individual leaflets measure around 15–20 cm (6–8 in) long and 1.5–6 cm (1–2 in) wide, and are much paler on their ventral side. The axillary inflorescence is a large brownish red panicle, covered in fine, soft, granular pubescent trichomes. The species has dioecious flowers, and its petals are pubescent. The fruit is a hard, ovoid drupe that is yellowish brown when young, and turns brownish red when ripe. This plant grows in the understorey of lowland forests, can grow on a variety of soils, and prefers acidic, well-drained soil. In traditional medicine of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, this plant is used by boiling its root in water and consuming the water as a tonic. Its flowers and fruits are used to treat dysentery, while its root is used to treat malaria, fever, and other ailments.
