Leea: Plant Genus Overview

• Leea is a plant genus within the Leeaceae family, which is sometimes classified under Vitaceae.
• Carl Linnaeus named the genus after Johan Leche, a colleague.
• Approximately 70 species exist within the Leea genus.
• These species are mainly located in the tropical and subtropical climates of Asia, Africa and Australia.
• Leea plants are generally branched shrubs or small trees.
• They typically grow to heights between 1 to 7 meters.
• Their leaves are pinnately compound.
• Each leaf has 2 to 7 pairs of leaflets.
• Flowers grow in corymbs and are small, with colors ranging from greenish-white to reddish.
• The fruit is a small berry in colors of red to purple-black.

Selected Species

• Leea aculeata Blume is native to Java.
• Leea adwivedica V.S.Raju is native to India.
• Leea aequata L. grows across India, Indochina, Malesia, and Queensland and is known as the Bandicoot Berry.
• Leea alata Edgew. is native to India.
• Leea amabilis Veitch is known as the Bandicoot Berry.
• Leea angulata Korth. ex Miq. is native to Borneo.
• Leea asiatica (L.) Ridsdale is commonly found in India, Indochina, Malesia, and Queensland.
• Leea aurantiaca Zoll. & Moritzi is native to Java.
• Leea compactiflora Merr. is native to the Philippines.
• Leea coccinea Planch has red flowers.
• Leea coriacea M.A.Lawson ex Gamble is native to India.
• Leea costata Lawson is native to India.
• Leea curtisii King is found in the Malay Peninsula.
• Leea glabra Merr. is native to the Philippines.
• Leea guineensis G.Don grows in tropical Africa.
• Leea hirta Roxb. ex Hornem. is known for its hairy texture.
• Leea indica (Burm. f.) Merr. grows across India, Indochina, and Malesia.
• Leea javanica Blume is native to Java.
• Leea macrophylla Roxb. ex Hornem. has large leaves.
• Leea maculata Roxb. has spotted leaves.
• Leea magnifolia Merr. is native to the Philippines.
• Leea mariannensis Merr. is found in the Mariana Islands.
• Leea moluccana Hattum ex Backer is native to the Moluccas.
• Leea monogyna Lauterb. is native to New Guinea.
• Leea multinervia Merr. is native to the Philippines.
• Leea mutabilis Engl. & K.Krause changes colors.
• Leea novoguineensis Merr. & L.M.Perry is native to New Guinea.
• Leea philippinensis Merr. is endemic to the Philippines.
• Leea quadrifida Merr. has leaves divided into four parts.
• Leea rubra Blume has red coloration.
• Leea sambucina Willd. resembles elderberry.
• Leea setuligera C.B.Clarke is native to India.
• Leea spinea Elmer is found in the Philippines.
• Leea steenisii Pradhan is named after a botanist and is found in Southeast Asia.
• Leea tetramera Dunn has four-parted flowers or fruits.

Uses

• Some Leea species are cultivated ornamentally due to their foliage.
• Certain species are used in traditional medicine.
• Scientific evidence supporting medicinal usage may be limited.
• Some species produce edible fruits.
• Leea fruits are not widely consumed.