Plumbago zeylanica

Ceylon Leadwort

Plumbaginaceae Edible: Caution - poisonous, Roots - drink, Leaves Potential hazards — see below 7,633 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Source: Wikipedia

Plumbago zeylanica, commonly known as Ceylon leadwort, doctorbush or wild leadwort, is a species of plumbago with a pantropical distribution. Carl Linnaeus described the paleotropical P. zeylanica and Neotropical P. scandens as separate species, but they are currently considered synonymous.

Description

A herb. It grows as a shrub to 1-3 m tall. It can spread to 2 m wide. The branches are spreading. The stems are ribbed. The base of the leaf stalk can be ear shaped. The leaf blade is oval. It is 5-8 cm long by 2.5-4 cm wide. They can be larger or smaller. The base is wedge shaped and it tapers to the tip. There are 5-70 flowers in a flower cluster. The flowers are white or pale blue. The fruit is a cylindrical capsule. The seeds are red-brown. They are 7 mm by 1.5 mm.

Edible Uses

The leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable or made into a drink. The roots are fermented to make a drink.

Traditional Uses

The leaves are used for making a drink. They are also cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The roots are fermented to make a drink. CAUTION: It is probably mainly used as a medicine.

Medicinal Uses

Early folk medicine used the crushed plant internally and externally as an abortifacient. In Ayurveda, P. zeylanica is known as chitrak, meaning "the spotted one". It is used with other herbs to lessen its intense pungency.

Known Hazards

The plant is poisonous and is probably mainly used as a medicine rather than food.

Distribution

It suits tropical and subtropical locations. It is damaged by frost. It suits shaded sites. It can grow in acid or slightly alkaline soils. It grows between 100-1600 m altitude in S China. It can grow on termite mounds. In XRBG Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Where It Grows

Africa, American Samoa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, China, East Africa, East Timor, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Marquesas, Mozambique, Myanmar, Norfolk Island, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings of firm young growth.

Propagation

Seed - easily propagated, the seeds germinate in 3 - 4 weeks at 21°c. Germination is almost 100% if both ends of the seed are cut before sowing. After 3 months storage, germination decreased to 40%. Sowing the seeds in a nursery and transplanting into the field at a density of 60 × 60 cm has given good results. Stem cuttings. Roots develop in 1 month - wait for good stem growth before potting them up. Root cuttings.

Other Uses

Juice from the roots is used as a tattoo pigment that can range from navy blue to black. A paste of the powdered root or the root sap is used for tattooing - the paste or sap causes blisters and the new skin has a darker colour. Plumbagin, a medically active compound in the plant, has strong antifeedant and moulting inhibiting effects on insects and has nematicidal and acaricidal activities. Sometimes planted in living fences.

Other Information

It is sold in local markets.

Notes

There are about 15 Plumbago species. They are mainly in the tropics. It is used for medicine. It has anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties. It is a muscle stimulant.

Also Known As

Amera, Bachhoaxa, Bama, Bau hua dan, Buombuom tichlan, Cheraka, Chet tamun plengkao, Chitrak, Chitramulan, Chitur, Duoi-cong, Elkuus, Godong enchok, Jarak, Kan-gyok-phyu, Kengoi, Keriyontus, Ki enchok, Kodiveli, Leadwort, Melekuya, Perdu dokter, Plumbago, Plumbago seilon, Poksor, Seto cheetu, Tshuaj zoo ntxhia

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