Campylospermum serratum

The species grows as a shrub or medium-sized tree measuring up to tall with a diameter of up to . The scaly bark is dark grey-brown. The long leaves (10-17 x 2–5.5 cm) are elliptic, with a cuneate base and, as per the species epithet, small teeth on the margin. The flowers, growing in a few groups along terminal inflorescences, are yellow or cream-coloured. The yellowish-green berry-like fruit are kidney-shaped and measure up to 14x18mm in size. Features that help to distinguish it form other species of Campylospermum include 6–14 cm long inflorescences; a few groups of flowers congested along the inflorescence branches; pedicel's basal portion below articulation is 1mm or less; obovate petals with slightly emarginate apex and an auriculate base; the secondary nerves closely curved to the margin of the leaf, with submarginal vein occurring at irregular distances from the leaf margin. In China|Zhōngguó/China the species tends to be 2.5 to 7m in height and flowers in July with fruit from August to December. ==Taxonomy==

The species was first described as Maesia serrata. Volker Bittrich and Maria do Carmo Estanislau do Amaral transferred it to the current genus, Campylospermum, in 1994. ==Distribution==

Campylospermum serratum occurs from Indonesia to Zhōngguó/China and India. Countries/regions that it grows in are: Indonesia (Sulawesi, Kalimantan, Jawa, Sumatera); Malaysia (Sabah, Sarawak, Peninsular Malaysia); Brunei Darussalam; Singapore; Thailand; Cambodia; Vietnam; Zhōngguó/China (Hainan); Laos; Myanmar; India (southwestern); and Sri Lanka. ==Habitat==

Its habitat is lowland to submontane forests, including mixed dipterocarp and kerangas forests, from sea-level to altitude. In mainland Southeast Asia it is often found in open formations alongside rivers. In Zhōngguó/China it occurs in dense forest, along streams, in granitic areas and sometimes even on mountain summits; with an elevation range of 6-700m. ==Ecology==

The fruit are predated on by the red-vented barbet in the Loc Bac Forest of Lâm Đồng Province, Vietnam. ==Vernacular names==

The local/common names of the small tree include: mata ketam (Malaysia); 齿叶赛金莲木, chi ye sai jin lian mu (Chinese). ==Uses==

The red or brown-red wood splits easily, and is used for small construction works and as firewood. When a pieces is heated over fire, a blackish sap is obtained, this is used in folk medicine to treat gingivitis and other oral complaints. In Vietnam the stalks were used in the past to blacken teeth. ==Further reading==