Combretum indicum,commonly known as theRangoon creeper[2]orBurma creeper,[3]is avinewith red flower clusters which is native to tropical Asia and grows in thickets,primaryandsecondary forest,and along river banks in theIndian subcontinent,Malaysiaand thePhilippines.[4]: 547 It has since been cultivated and naturalized in tropical areas such as Burma, Vietnam, and Thailand.
| Combretum indicum | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Combretaceae |
| Genus: | Combretum |
| Species: | C. indicum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Combretum indicum (L.) DeFilipps
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
16 synonyms
| |
Description
edit
The Rangoon creeper is aligneousvine that can reach from 2.5 meters to up to 8 meters. The leaves are elliptical with an acuminate tip and a rounded base. They grow from 7 to 15 centimeters and their arrangement is opposite.
Flowers and fruit
editThe flowers are tubular, consisting of oblong petals 6–8 mm long. They are fragrant and have long receptacles to adapt for pollinators with long tongues.[4]: 547–548
They change in colour with age and it is thought that this is a strategy to gather more pollinators. The flower is initially white and opens at dusk to attracthawkmoths.On the second day it turns pink, and on the third it turns red attracting day flying bees and birds. The flower also changes from a horizontal orientation to a drooping pose.[6]: 175 [4]: 548
-
Buds and flowers ofCombretum indicuminWest Bengal,India -
Flowers in morning
The 30 to 35 mm long fruit is dark brown, ellipsoidal and has five stiff and prominent wings. The seed tastes likealmondorcoconutwhen mature.[4]: 547
The plant blooms all year long in warm regions (Combretum indicum is a vigorous climber, and can be found flowering throughout the year if the temperature remains high enough and enough water is available.)[7]
Potential toxicity
editThe seeds of this and related species,Quisqualis fructusandQ. chinensis,contain the chemicalquisqualic acid,which is anagonistfor theAMPA receptor,a kind ofglutamatereceptorin the brain. The chemical is linked toexcitotoxicity(cell death).[8][9]The seeds have been used for treatingroundwormandpinworminfections.[citation needed]It is toxic to the parasite and kills it in the digestive tract.[citation needed]
History
editDrJohn Ivor Murraysent a sample of the "nuts" to the Museum of Economic Botany inEdinburghin 1861, with a note that they were "used by the Chinese for worms" and a description of the means of preparation and dosage.[10]
Gallery
edit-
Flowers: small, cream calyx surrounded by large pink petals -
'Spines' derived from remnants of petioles -
Climbing plant in flower -
Bud shape -
Foliage: the young leaves (not shown) are brown-tinted -
The vines twine roundCasuarina equisetifoliafor further growth support
References
edit- ^"Combretum indicum(L.) DeFilipps ".Plants of the World Online.Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.2024.Retrieved20 May2024.
- ^"Combretum indicum".Germplasm Resources Information Network.Agricultural Research Service,United States Department of Agriculture.Retrieved8 August2019.
- ^abQuisqualis indicaLinn. – Niog-niogan(PDF).Bureau of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture, Republic of Philippines. n.d. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 20 July 2011.
- ^abcdExell, A.W. (1948)."Combretaceae".Flora Malesiana.4(1):533–589 – via Naturalis Institutional Repository.
- ^Oakes, Albert Jackson (1967).Some Harmful Plants of Southeast Asia.Bethesda, Maryland, USA: Naval Medical School. pp.39–40.
- ^Eisikowitch, D.; Rotem, R. (1987). "Flower Orientation and Color Change in Quisqualis indica and Their Possible Role in Pollinator Partitioning".Botanical Gazette.148(2):175–179.doi:10.1086/337645.JSTOR2995472.S2CID84197357.
- ^A, Schmelzer, G. H. & Gurib-Fakim (2008)."Medicinal plants 2".PROTA.Retrieved4 October2024.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^Excitotoxic cell death and delayed rescue in human neurons derived from NT2 cells, M Munir, L Lu and P Mcgonigl, Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 15, 7847–7860
- ^Glutamate cytotoxicity in a neuronal cell line is blocked by membrane depolarization. T. H. Murphy, R. L. Schnaar, J. T. Coyle and A. Sastre. Brain Research Volume 460, Issue 1, 13 September 1988, Pages 155–160
- ^Traill, Dr William (1863)."I. Notes on Horticultural Experience at Russelconda, South India".Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh.7(1–4):109–110.doi:10.1080/03746606309467805.
External links
edit
- Quisqualis indica L.
- Quisqualis indica (PIER species info)
- Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014)."Combretum indicum".African plants – a Photo Guide.Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.