Argyreia nervosa (PROSEA)
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Introduction |
Argyreia nervosa (Burm.f.) Bojer
- Protologue: Hortus maurit.: 224 (1837).
Synonyms
Argyreia speciosa (L.f.) Sweet (1826).
Vernacular names
- Elephant climber, elephant creeper (En)
- Indonesia: areuy bohol keboh (Sundanese)
- Philippines: sedang-dahon (Tagalog), hojas de seda (Sp)
- Thailand: bai rabaat, phak rabaat (central), mueang mon (Bangkok)
- Vietnam: thảo bạc gân.
Distribution
Native to India; cultivated in many tropical countries, also throughout South-East Asia, and sometimes escaped.
Uses
In Thailand the roots are used as tonic, diuretic and aphrodisiac, and to treat allergic dermatitis, arthritis and obesity, the leaves are applied to wounds, abscesses and skin diseases, and leaf juice to treat inflamed ears. In India the root is considered alterative and tonic, and is used to treat rheumatism and diseases of the nervous system. The leaves are applied as a local stimulant, rubefacient and antiphlogistic, although they act as vesicant, and are used to treat wounds and skin diseases. A. nervosa is often cultivated as an ornamental.
Observations
A liana up to 10(-15) m long, with densely tomentose twining stems; leaves ovate to orbicular, 10-30 cm × 8-25 cm, sometimes even larger, deeply cordate at base, densely tomentose beneath; bracts large, 3.5-5 cm long, caducous; corolla with limb shallowly lobed, c. 6 cm long, pink-purple; fruit globose, c. 20 mm in diameter, yellowish-brown.
Selected sources
76, 173, 247, 760, 849, 887, 933.
Main genus page
Authors
Trimurti H. Wardini
