Jateorhiza palmata

(Lam.) Miers

Menispermaceae Edible: Root - medicine 8 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Jateorhiza palmata (calumba) is a perennial climbing plant from East Africa. It contains isoquinoline alkaloids, including columbamine and is used mainly as a bitter tonic especially in cases of anorexia nervosa. It contains no tannins, hence it can be safely used in iron preparations for the treatment of anaemia without the fear of precipitation resulted from in vitro interaction.

Description

A creeper or vine. The young branches are hairy. The root is a tuber. The leaves are 15-35 cm long by 16-40 cm wide. They are broadly rounded and heart shaped at the base. They are often lobed. The female flowering shoots are 8-10 cm long. The male ones are 40 cm long. The fruit are 2-2.5 cm long by 1.5-2 cm wide.

Medicinal Uses

The root is used medicinally.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows up to 1,500 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, Brazil, East Africa, Ghana, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Niger, Reunion, Sahel, Tanzania, West Africa, Zimbabwe,