Rauvolfia verticillata

Content

Description

Shrub 0.5-5 m high. Leaves confined to the apex of the branchlets, usually in whorls of 3 or 4, sometimes also opposite; Inflorescence 3-12 cm long, usually in whorls of 3 or 4, rarely solitary, lax, 8-24(-more than 35)-flowered; Sepals ovate to subtriangular, very variable in size even within a single cyme, 2-5.5 by 0.8-1 mm, 2-7 times as long as wide, apex acute to acuminate, glabrous. Stamens inserted at 6-10 mm from base, 0.4-0.7 of the length of the corolla tube; Fruit whitish purple when mature, usually of paired mericarps free from each other, with a very short stalk, sometimes only 1 carpel developing, ovoid, sometimes rather straight on one side and convex on the other side, 9-14 by 4.5-7 mm, 1.7-2.5 times as long as wide, apex acute to obtuse. Seeds 1, obliquely ovoid, 7-11 by 4-5 mm, 1.7-2.5 times as long as wide, acute at both ends, glabrous.

Distribution

Asia-Temperate: Taiwan (Taiwan present), Asia-Tropical: Borneo present; Cambodia (Cambodia present); India present; Jawa (Jawa present); Laos (Laos present); Lesser Sunda Is. present; Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia present); Philippines (Philippines present); Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka present); Sulawesi (Sulawesi present); Sumatera (Sumatera present); Thailand (Thailand present); Vietnam (Vietnam present), Burma present

India, Sri Lanka, Burma, China, Thailand, Taiwan, LaosCambodia, Vietnam; in Malesia: Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Java, Sulawesi, Lesser Sunda Islands, Philippines.

Uses

The root is used for hypertensive illnesses and as a sedative. Fresh leaves can be used externally to treat snake bites, wounds and eye problems.

Citation

Tsiang 1934 – In: Sunyatsenia: 109

Kessler et al. 2002 – In: Blumea: 15

Miq. 1857 – In: Fl. Ned. Ind.: 419

Whitmore et al. 1989: Checklist Bali, Nusa Tenggara Timor: 14

Merr. 1921: Bibliogr. Enum. Born. Pl.: 499

Whitmore & Tantra 1986: Checklist Sumatra: 20

Lý 1986 – In: Feddes Repert.: 430

Whitmore 1973 – In: Tree Fl. Malaya: 21

Ridl. 1923 – In: Fl. Malay Penins.: 335

Pradhan 2001 – In: Singh et al., Fl. Maharashtra State Dicot. 2: 326

Markgr. 1984 – In: Blumea: 160

Hendrian & D.J. Middleton 1999 – In: Blumea: 464

I.M. Turner 1997 – In: Gard. Bull. Singapore 47: 129

D.J. Middleton 2004 – In: Tree Fl. Sabah & Sarawak: 49

Corner 1952 – In: Wayside Trees Malaya, ed. 2: 148

Miq. 1857 – In: Fl. Ned. Ind.: 404

Monach. 1954 – In: Econ. Bot.: 358

Baill. 1999 – In: PROSEA: 431

T.C. Huang 1986 – In: Taiwania: 100

D.J. Middleton 1999 – In: Fl. Thailand: 54

Lý 1986 – In: Feddes Repert.: 430

M.F. Watson 1999 – In: Fl. Bhutan: 668

Tsiang & P.T. Li 1977 – In: Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin.: 58

Baill. 1990: Checklist Kalimantan: 26

Merr. 1935 – In: Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. n.s.: 312