Securinega flexuosa (Muell. Arg.) Muel. Arg.

A deciduous, dioecious shrub or small or rarely medium-sized tree up to 10(-30) m tall; bole often irregular, branchless for up to 6 m, up to 30(-50) cm in diameter, sometimes with indistinct buttresses; bark surface smooth, becoming fissured and scaly with age, peeling in small, thin strips, lenticellate, pale grey to pale brown. Leaves arranged spirally but distichous on twigs, simple, entire, with short petioles; stipules small. Flowers in an axillary fascicle, unisexual, small, whitish or greenish-yellow; sepals 5; petals absent. Male flowers with 3-5 stamens; disk composed of 5 glands; pistillode present. Female flowers with an annular, crenate disk; ovary superior, 3-locular with 2 ovules in each cell, styles short, connate at base, stigmas deeply 2-lobed or double 2-lobed. Fruit drupaceous, many in clusters, fleshy, red turning black when ripe. Seed angled.

In the Philippines flowering has been observed in January and in May-June, fruiting in January and May. In the Pacific it flowers and fruits several times a year and has been recorded to bloom in January, April, July and September. The fruits are taken and dispersed by birds.

It grows well on nutrient-poor soils.

S. flexuosa has been found in primary forest at low altitudes and in dense shrub savanna. It is often a pioneer growing in river floodplains, fallowed fields and abandoned coconut plantations. S. flexuosa is a light-demanding tree.

Apiculture: Pollen and nectar (honey) can be obtained from the flowers.

Fuel: It also yields a good fuelwood. Medicine: The bark is applied medicinally in a fever-reducing drink. Timber: In the Philippines the wood of S. flexuosa is locally highly valued for house and fence posts, and additionally used for joists, rafters and tool handles. Tannin or dyestuff: The leaves are used for staining.