Rauvolfia serpentina

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Rauvolfia serpentina

Description

Shrub 0.3-1.5 m high, unbranched or rarely branched. Leaves confined to the apex of the branchlets, in whorls of 3 or 4 (or 5), very rarely opposite; Inflorescence 3.8-9(-14.1) cm long, terminal cymes, sometimes also axillary, usually solitary, congested, 20-more than 35-flowered; Sepals narrowly ovate, 1.3-3.5 by 0.4-0.8 mm, 3.2-4.8 times as long as wide, apex acute, glabrous. Stamens inserted at 7.5-12 mm from base, 0.6-0.8 of tube length; Fruit black to reddish black when mature, syncarpous, cordate, mericarps connate at the base for 3-4 mm, or 0.55-0.65 of their length, sometimes only 1 carpel developing; Seeds 1 in each half, obliquely ovoid, 3-4 by 2.2-3 mm, 1.2-1.4 times as long as wide, acute, glabrous.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Cambodia (Cambodia present); India present; Jawa (Jawa present); Laos (Laos present); Lesser Sunda Is. present; Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia present); Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka present); Thailand (Thailand present); Vietnam (Vietnam present), Burma present, Nepal present
India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Burma, Thailand, LaosCambodia, Vietnam; in Malesia: Peninsular Malaysia, Java, Lesser Sunda Islands.

Uses

Most of the uses described in the introductory chapters for Rauvolfia as a whole apply to this species. These include the treatment of snake bites, mental illnesses and epilepsy. In other areas it has been used as a treatment for high blood pressure, for a wide range of mental health problems, liver diseases, dysentery and in childbirth. It has also been used externally for eye problems and as a treatment for wounds.

Citation

Hook.f. 1882 – In: Fl. Brit. India: 632
Miq. 1857 – In: Fl. Ned. Ind.: 404
Boerl. 1899 – In: Handl. Fl. Ned. Ind.: 393
H. Huber 1973 – In: Abeyw. (ed.), Revis. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 1: 15
Markgr. 1984 – In: Blumea: 161
M. Gangop. & Chakr. 1992 – In: J. Econ. Taxon. Bot.: 52
Pradhan 2001 – In: Singh et al., Fl. Maharashtra State Dicot. 2: 325
K. Heyne 1927: Nutt. Pl. Ned.-Ind.,, ed. 2: 1286
Whitmore et al. 1989: Checklist Bali, Nusa Tenggara Timor: 14
Kurz 1999 – In: PROSEA: 430
D.J. Middleton 1999 – In: Fl. Thailand: 53
Hendrian & D.J. Middleton 1999 – In: Blumea: 460
Backer & Bakh.f. 1965 – In: Fl. Java: 231
Koord. 1912 – In: Exkurs.-Fl. Java: 74
Merr. 1917: Interpr. Herb. Amboin.: 430
Kurz 1983 – In: Dassan. (ed.), Revis. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 4: 49
Masam. 1942: Enum. Phan. Born.: 623
Monach. 1954 – In: Econ. Bot.: 349
Kerr 1939 – In: Craib, Fl. Siam. 2: 430
M.F. Watson 1999 – In: Fl. Bhutan: 668
Koord.-Schum. 1912: Syst. Verz.: 175
Miq. 1857 – In: Fl. Ned. Ind.: 404
Bakh.f. 1950 – In: Blumea: 386