Pop-gun Seed, Pikpoktai

Scientific Name : Bridelia tomentosa Blume
Common Name : Pop-gun Seed, Pikpoktai
Chinese Name : 土蜜樹, 逼迫仔
Family : EUPHORBIACEAE
Local distribution status : Native species

Anecdotes on plants

Origins	Various provinces in South China, including Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Hainan and Fujian. Distribution can also be found in Southeast Asia and region from India to Australia.
Meanings of name	It was said that children from the countryside would use the fruits of the Pop-gun Seed as fake bullets for their mini toy guns, also known as “pop guns”, hence giving its common name. During its flowering period, the Pop-gun Seed can provide nectar to wild animals. Meanwhile, since it blooms year-round, it is a good nectar plant and is known as “Soil Nectar Tree (土蜜樹)” in Chinese. The word “Soil (土)” in this name refers to it “being native to the land”, and the plant can also be used for beekeeping. The species epithet “tomentosa” in scientific name means “tomentose”, describing the hairs covering the branches and leaves of Pop-gun Seed.
Ecology	The Pop-gun Seed is a common native plant in Hong Kong, growing in montane forests and thickets. It is also one of the most commonly seen plants in the Fung Shui Woods. Furthermore, the Pop-gun Seed is the host plant for a variety of butterfly species, such as the Common Hedge Blue (Acytolepis puspa (Horsfield, 1828)) and Tailless Lineblue (Prosotas dubiosa (Semper, 1879)).
Applications	The stems, leaves and roots of the Pop-gun Seed can be applied as medicines, having the properties of clearing heat and detoxification, as well as tranquilizing the heart and calming the mind.

Traits for identification

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Remarks

Scientific name above is based on Hong Kong Herbarium website : https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/en/hk-plant-database/plant-detail/index.html?pType=species&oID=4177

Scientific names from other databases
― Flora of China : Bridelia tomentosa Blume
― Plants of the World Online : Bridelia tomentosa Blume

Reference

• Ades, G. W. J. & Kendrick, R. C. (2004). Hong Kong Fauna: A Checklist of Selected Taxa. Fauna Conservation Department, Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden Corporation, Hong Kong.
• Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD). (2018). A Photographic Guide to Common Urban Trees of Hong Kong. 3^rd edition. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong. ISBN: 978-988-12021-3-0.
• Corlett, R., Xing, F. W., Ng, S. C., Chau, K. C. & Wong, M. Y. (2000). Hong Kong Vascular Plants Distribution and Status. Memoirs of the Hong Kong Natural History Society, No. 23. Hong Kong, China.
• eFloras. (2008). Bridelia tomentosa Blume. Flora of China. [Online Edition]. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 21^st July 2020, from: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=242309123
• eFloras. (2008). Bridelia Willdenow. Flora of China. [Online Edition]. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 21^st July 2020, from: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=104621
• Hong Kong Herbarium, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department & South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2007-2011). Bridelia tomentosa Blume 土蜜樹, 逼迫仔. Flora of Hong Kong. [Online Edition]. Retrieved 21^st July 2020, from: https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/FloraOfHK/Species/4177/4177_S_E.pdf
• Hong Kong Wetland Park, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. (2021). Pop-Gun Seed. Trees. Beauty of Wetlands. Biodiversity Corner. Retrieved from 3^rd January 2021, from: https://www.wetlandpark.gov.hk/en/biodiversity/beauty-of-wetlands/wildlife/bridelia-tomentosa
• Lau, C. S. K. (2019). Checklist of Insects of Hong Kong. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong. ISBN: 978-988-12022-9-1.
• 中國科學院仙湖植物園。（2010）。《深圳植物誌》（第2卷）。北京 : 中國林業出版社。國際標準書號 : 978-7-5038-5884-0。
• 中國科學院植物誌編輯委員會。（1959-2004）。〈土蜜樹 Bridelia tomentosa Bl.〉。《中國植物誌》。[網上版本]。於2020年7月21日擷取自 : http://www.iplant.cn/info/Bridelia%20tomentosa?t=z
• 中國科學院植物誌編輯委員會。（1959-2004）。〈土蜜樹屬 Bridelia Willd.〉。《中國植物誌》。[網上版本]。於2020年7月21日擷取自 : http://www.iplant.cn/info/Bridelia?t=z
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• 國立自然科學博物館。（2021）。〈土密樹(03/10)，春季(2.3.4月)，回顧2015年花果曆〉。《花果曆》。於2021年1月3日擷取自 : https://www.nmns.edu.tw/flowers/2015/spring/03-11/
• 沈顯生、Antoniao Ziosi。（2015）。《植物學拉丁文》。2005年1月第一版，2015年10月第3版。安徽 : 中國科學技術大學出版社。國際標準書號 : 978-7-312-03739-9。
• 漁農自然護理署香港濕地公園。（2020）。〈土蜜樹，喬木，濕地動植物〉。《生物多樣性》。於2020年12月8日擷取自 : https://www.wetlandpark.gov.hk/tc/biodiversity/beauty-of-wetlands/wildlife/bridelia-tomentosa
• 陳虎彪、楊全。（2013）。《中草藥野外識別圖譜》。福建 : 福建科學技術出版社。2016年12月第四次重印。國際標準書號 : 978-7-5335-4323-5。
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