Coptosapelta tomentosa (PROSEA)
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Introduction |
Coptosapelta tomentosa (Blume) Valeton ex K. Heyne
- Protologue: Nutt. pl. Ned. Ind. ed. 2, 2: 1384 (1927).
- Family: Rubiaceae
- Chromosome number: 2n= unknown
Synonyms
Coptosapelta flavescens Korth. (1851).
Vernacular names
- Indonesia: kertupai (Lampung), akar metedong (Bangka)
- Malaysia: peruwal, prual (Peninsular)
- Laos: dok khat khao
- Thailand: yaan khlong (peninsular)
- Vietnam: dây vàng hoan.
Origin and geographic distribution
C. tomentosa is found from Burma (Myanmar) to Indo-China, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Bangka, Java and Borneo.
Uses
For medicinal purposes, the roots of C. tomentosa are most important. In Peninsular Malaysia, a decoction of the roots is taken to treat intestinal worms; a lotion or poultice is applied to young children. A decoction of the roots is also taken to treat colic, fever and ulceration of the nose. An infusion, drunk cold, is used as a protective medicine after childbirth. The boiled, dried and powdered roots are rubbed on the whole body against fever and rheumatism. In Sumatra, a cold infusion of the roots is taken to treat intestinal worms, and a poultice is applied against flatulence or fever. In Vietnam, an ointment of the roots is used to treat dropsy. It also has diuretic and detoxicating effects, and is used to treat fever, beriberi and rheumatism. It also regulates menstruation. The leaves are applied on wounds. In Peninsular Malaysia, the bark seems to be used as dart poison for small game, but there is also mention that it is possibly sometimes mistaken for a Strychnos species.
A decoction of roots and leaves of C. griffithii Hook.f. from Peninsular Malaysia is taken to treat stomach-ache, colic and fever.
Properties
Nothing is known about the chemistry of C. tomentosa . An extract of the bark, injected into frogs, caused local paralysis of the muscles, and large doses stopped the heart. In rabbits, however, no effects were observed. C. diffusa (Champ. ex Benth.) v. Steenis contains the triterpene thysanolactone.
Coptosapelta is an active aluminium accumulator, a feature that occurs mainly in the primitive taxa of the Rubiaceae occurring in tropical forests with relatively high rainfall.
Botany
A liana up to 8 m long; branches at apex densely yellowish-brown pubescent. Leaves opposite, simple, ovate-oblong or oblong, 5-16 cm × 2-7.5 cm, base rounded, apex acuminate, glabrous above, pubescent on veins beneath when young, glossy; petiole 0.7-1.5 cm long, pubescent; stipules interpetiolar, triangular, concave, 3-6 mm long, with appressed long white hairs along margins. Inflorescence a cyme, terminal and in upper leaf axils, united into a terminal, drooping, pubescent panicle 8-35 cm long. Flowers bisexual, 5-merous, white, gradually turning orange-yellow, fragrant; calyx tube campanulate, pubescent, lobes obtuse, 1.5-2 mm long, ciliate; corolla tube narrow, 5-8 mm long, appressed hairy outside, lobes contorted in bud, 8-11 mm × 2 mm; stamens 5, inserted in the throat of the corolla, filaments 1.5 mm long, anthers linear, c. 10 mm long, slender, sagittate, pilose, exserted; ovary inferior, 2-celled, style filiform, shorter than corolla lobes, upper part thickened, hairy, green, entire. Fruit a 2-celled capsule, compressed globose, 1-1.5 cm long, glabrous, yellow, loculicidally 2-valved, many-seeded. Seeds small, radiatingly ribbed, winged all around, wing divided into narrow lobes.
C. tomentosa flowers in Java from December-March, and in Indo-China flowering is in September, and fruiting in March. The flowers are protrandrous; already in bud, the pollen is found on the style and in opened flowers the anthers are empty.
The small Indo-Asiatic genus Coptosapelta comprises 4-6 species. The monotypic genus Thysanospermum Champ. ex Benth. from southern China, Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands is reduced to Coptosapelta . The species C. diffusa (synonym: Thysanospermum diffusum Champ. ex Benth.) does not occur in Malesia.
Ecology
C. tomentosa occurs in secondary forest, brushwood and along forest margins, climbing to tops of trees, in Java from sea-level up to 550 m altitude. It is rare but can be locally abundant.
Management In Vietnam, the roots and stems of C. tomentosa are harvested throughout the year. They are mainly used fresh.
Genetic resources and breeding
There is possibly some danger of genetic erosion, because C. tomentosa is harvested from natural populations only, and, moreover, it is uncommon. There are no known breeding programmes.
Prospects
The rather numerous medicinal applications of C. tomentosa in different parts of South-East Asia may be a startingpoint for research.
Literature
18, 121, 216, 307.
Other selected sources
62, 334, 414, 731, 789, 951.
Main genus page
Authors
S. Brotonegoro
