Liriope graminifolia (PROSEA)
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Introduction |
Liriope graminifolia (L.) Baker
- Protologue: Journ. Linn. Soc., Bot. 17: 499 (1879).
- Family: Convallariaceae
- Chromosome number: 2n= 36, 72, 108
Synonyms
Liriope spicata Lour. (1790).
Vernacular names
- Vietnam: tóc tiên rừng, thổ mạch môn.
Origin and geographic distribution
L. graminifolia occurs in Indo-China, southern China, Taiwan, Korea, southern Japan and the Philippines (Batan Islands, Luzon and Mindoro).
Uses
The tubers of L. graminifolia are used in traditional medicine in Indo-China and China. A decoction or infusion is prescribed to treat chronic cough, haemoptysis, fever, dysentery, and as a galactagogue. Candied tubers are considered tonic and aphrodisiac. Whole plants are used to treat diabetes in China.
The tubers of Ophiopogon japonicus (L.f.) Ker Gawl., a species also occurring wild in the Philippines and often cultivated as an ornamental elsewhere in Malesia, are used for similar purposes in Chinese medicine. They are often traded under the same Chinese vernacular name (“Mai Dong”“). In fact, Ophiopogon japonicus tubers are official in the Chinese pharmacopoeia, but L. graminifolia tubers often substituted for them.
Liriope , mainly L. muscari (Decne.) L.H. Bailey, is much cultivated as an ornamental. Many cultivars exist, often with variegated leaves. Liriope is used successfully as ground cover along highways in the United States.
Properties
The tubers of L. graminifolia are yellowish-grey, translucent and flexible, with a central longitudinal, ligneous cord. Several steroidal glycosides and steroidal saponins have been isolated from L. graminifolia tubers, e.g. spicatosides, some of which showed anti-inflammatory activity in the mouse ear oedema test. An aqueous extract of the tubers had effect on the immune function in mice; it increased the spleen weight, enhanced the clearance rate of charcoal particles and considerably antagonized the leucopenia caused by cyclophosphamide. In tests with anaesthetized cats, it also increased ventricular contractile force and it was concluded that it might increase the cardiac pump function. The saponin fraction showed anti-ischaemic effect when administered intraperitoneally to rats. It inhibited the release of creatine kinase.
Flower extracts of L. graminifolia showed strong molluscicidal activity against Oncomelania hupensis , the intermediate host of schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma japonicum . The steroid saponins might very well be responsible for this activity.
Ruscogenin glycoside isolated from L. muscari improved immunological liver injury induced in mice.
Botany
A stemless herb with horizontal, slender, moderately woody rhizome; roots with distant, oblong tubers 4-5 cm × c. 0.5 cm. Leaves basal, numerous, tufted, simple, linear to narrowly linear-oblanceolate, 25-90 cm × 2-9 mm, minutely denticulate on the margins, many-veined, with membranous wings towards the base. Inflorescence a pseudoraceme with erect peduncle (12-)30-50 cm long; bracts deltoid, up to 4 mm long. Flowers bisexual, slightly zygomorphic; pedicel 2-12 mm long, articulated near apex; tepals 6, free, 3.5-4 mm long, fleshy, violet; stamens 6, attached at base of tepals, c. 3 mm long; ovary superior, 3-celled, style short and thick, stigma capitate. Fruit a 1-seeded berry, rupturing in early development, exposing the seed, with persistent tepals. Seed subglobose to ellipsoid, c. 5 mm long, testa fleshy, black.
Liriope comprises about 5 species and is naturally distributed in Indo-China, China, Japan and the Philippines. It is classified in the tribe Ophiopogoneae , together with Ophiopogon and Peliosanthes . It is not completely certain that L. spicata Lour. is synonymous with L. graminifolia . The name L. graminifolia has often been used for ornamental plants, but probably mostly incorrect.
Ecology
In the Philippines L. graminifolia occurs on open slopes up to 1400 m altitude, and seems to be uncommon.
Management As an ornamental Liriope is propagated by seed, sown fresh in a sandy propagation mix, or by division. It is easy to grow.
Genetic resources
L. graminifolia is rare in the Malesian region, and therefore easily liable to genetic erosion in the area. However, it seems to be, at least locally, common in mainland Asia.
Prospects
L. graminifolia is an interesting medicinal plant, which is very poorly known in the Malesian region, probably mainly due to its rarity. Its pharmacological properties, especially its anti-inflammatory activity, deserve more attention. The fact that it is easy to grow is advantageous for its possible development as a medicinal crop. A taxonomic study of wild Liriope is desirable.
Literature
247, 267, 481, 671, 882, 1043.
Other selected sources
186, 215, 760, 1009, 1044.
Main genus page
Authors
D.S. Alonzo
