Pouzolzia (PROSEA)
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Introduction |
Pouzolzia Gaudich.
- Protologue: in Freyc., Voy. Uranie: 503 (1830).
- Family: Urticaceae
- Chromosome number: x= 12, 13; P. hirta: 2n= 26, P. sanguinea: 2n= 26, P. zeylanica: 2n= 24, 48
Major species
- Pouzolzia hirta (Blume) Hassk.,
- P. pentandra (Roxb.) Benn.,
- P. zeylanica (L.) Benn.
Origin and geographic distribution
Pouzolzia comprises about 35-40 species widely distributed throughout the tropics; in South-East Asia about 7-10 species are found.
Uses
The leaves or crushed stems of several Pouzolzia species are used in poulticing sores and ulcers in various parts of South-East Asia. In Java, an infusion of the roots of P. sanguinea (Blume) Merr. (synonym P. viminea Wedd.), a species known for its strong bark fibres, is prescribed for patients vomiting blood.
Production and international trade
Pouzolzia is only used on a local scale.
Properties
No phytochemical information is available for the Malesian Pouzolzia species. Only one report exists on antifungal activity against Exserohilum turcicum (synonym Helminthosporium turcicum) northern leaf blight.
Description
- Monoecious, rarely dioecious herbs or shrubs, without irritant hairs.
- Leaves alternate, sometimes opposite, simple, chartaceous, upper leaves sometimes grading into bracts, usually entire, often 3-veined; petiolate or subsessile; stipules free.
- Inflorescence axillary, sessile clusters or short-peduncled cymes or spike-like by reduction of upper leaves.
- Male flowers: pedicellate, bracteolate, tepals 3-5, valvate, acuminate, stamens 3-5, pistillode present. Female flowers: sessile or subsessile, perianth tubular, 2-4-dentate, ovary superior, free, included, stigma filiform, unilaterally stigmatic.
- Fruit an achene, enclosed in an accrescent, ribbed or winged perianth.
Growth and development
Most Pouzolzia species flower and fruit without any particular seasonality.
Other botanical information
Pouzolzia comprises a group of highly variable species and is in urgent need of a monographic treatment. Two sections are discerned: Pouzolzia with entire or serrate-dentate leaves, 3-veined at base, the lateral veins branched, male tepals convex or gibbous at the back (e.g. P. zeylanica), and Memorialis with entire leaves, 3-veined usually to the leaf apex, upper leaves grading into bracts, male tepals inflexed at middle, the flowers appearing truncated, often with filiform processes (e.g. P. hirta, P. pentandra).
Ecology
Pouzolzia can be found in relatively open or semi-shaded, not too dry habitats, grasslands, along ditches and in forest margins.
Propagation and planting
Pouzolzia can easily be propagated from seed. Those species rooting at the nodes can be easily propagated by stem cuttings. P. zeylanica cuttings develop adventitious roots and new shoots after 1 week.
Harvesting
Leaves, bark or roots of Pouzolzia are collected from the wild whenever needed.
Handling after harvest
All plant parts of Pouzolzia are usually used fresh.
Genetic resources and breeding
Since all Pouzolzia treated here have a large area of distribution, and are common in disturbed habitats, they do not seem to be at risk of genetic erosion.
Prospects
Very little information is available about the phytochemistry and pharmacology of Pouzolzia. More research is therefore needed to evaluate its possible potential.
Literature
- Chew, W.-L., 1989. Urticaceae. In: George, A.S. (Editor): Flora of Australia. Vol. 3. Hamamelidales to Casuarinales. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, Australia. pp. 68-93.
- Perry, L.M., 1980. Medicinal plants of East and Southeast Asia. Attributed properties and uses. MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States & London, United Kingdom. p. 422.
- Quisumbing, E., 1978. Medicinal plants of the Philippines. Katha Publishing Co., Quezon City, the Philippines. pp. 249-250.
- Saralamp, P., Chuakul, W., Temsiririrkkul, R. & Clayton, T. (Editors), 1996. Medicinal plants in Thailand. Vol. I. Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. p. 155.
- Wadhwa, B.M., 1999. Urticaceae. In: Dassanayake, M.D. & Clayton, W.D. (Editors): A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon. Vol. 13. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, the Netherlands & Brookfield, United States. pp. 232-284.
- Wilmot-Dear, C.M. & Friis, I., 1996. The New World species of Boehmeria and Pouzolzia (Urticaceae, tribus Boehmerieae). A taxonomic revision. Opera Botanica 129. 103 pp.
Selection of species
Authors
- Mulyati Rahayu
