Eleutherine palmifolia
Content
Description
Herb, 30-60 cm high, glabrous;
Leaves basal 3-4 from each bulb, and cauline, narrowly elliptic, plicate-nerved, 25-60 by 1-2½ cm.
Inflorescences in 4-10-flowered cymes;
Flowers very fugacious, white.
Stamens yellow to orange, 8-10 mm long.
Ovary ellipsoidal, c. 2 mm long;
Capsules globose, c. 6 mm long.
Seeds dark brown, c. 2 mm ø.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Jawa (Jawa); Philippines (Philippines), Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Negros, Tropical Africa, W. Borneo, W. Java, tropical America
Native in tropical America, cultivated and naturalized in tropical Africa and in Malesia: W. Java, W. Borneo, and the Philippines (Luzon, Leyte, Negros, Mindanao); in Java already noticed ± 1820.
Uses
According to QUISUMBING l.c. in the Philippines macerated bulbs are applied on the stomachs of children to relieve gas pains, and a decoction is diuretic. According to HEYNE l.c. this finally strongly stooling, tufted plant is cultivated and its bulbs have various applications in native medicine: diuretic, purgative, emetic, against dysentery, jaundice, etc.
Notes
The tepals are sometimes numerous, up to 15; the number of the stamens is sometimes up to 8; the ovary is sometimes 4-11-locular with the same number of style-arms.
Citation
BACK. & SLOOT. 1924: Handb. Thee: 91: t. 91
BLANCO 1877 – In: Fl. Filip., ed. 3: t. 100
Merr. 1905 – In: Publ. Gov. Lab. Philip.: 85
QUIS. 1951: Med. Pl. Philip.: 182
Merr. 1912: Fl. Manila: 153
HEYNE 1927: Nutt. Pl.: 462
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 220
LEONARD 1951 – In: Bull. Soc. R. Bot. Belg.: 55
BACK. & BAKH.F. 1968 – In: Fl. Java: 150
BACK. 1924 – In: Handb. Fl. Java: 126
Merr. 1918: Sp. Blanc.: 104