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Useful Tropical Plants

(Redirected from Ixora pavetta)

Pavetta indica

L.

Rubiaceae


This species is rather controversial, as some authors claim that it has a wide distribution area from southern China to Australia - many different varieties are then distinguished, mainly based on the hairiness of different plant parts. We are following the treatment in the 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families', which views Pavetta indica in a more narrow sense as being restricted to India and Sri Lanka, with a number of other closely related species found from southern China to Australia. The medicinal uses listed here under Pavetta indica are often for plants growing wild outside of India and Sri Lanka and so are more correctly referred to those species - if we knew which species they refer to!! It is likely, however, that these closely related species will all have the same or very similar, medicinal properties[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Ixora indica (L.) Baill.

Ixora nunypapata Roxb. ex Wight & Arn.

Ixora paniculata Lam.

Ixora pavetta Roxb.

Ixora roxburghii Kuntze

Ixora tomentosa glabrescens Kurz

Ixora velutina Wall.

Pavetta alba Vahl

Pavetta amabilis Bremek.

Pavetta assamica Bremek.

Pavetta bengalensis Bremek.

Pavetta brunonis Wight

Pavetta cerniflora Zipp. ex Span.

Pavetta griffithii Bremek.

Pavetta neglecta Bremek.

Pavetta obtusa Pers.

Pavetta polyneura Bremek.

Pavetta rothiana DC.

Pavetta thomsonii Bremek.

Pavetta tomentosa glabrescens (Kurz) Bremek.

Pavetta villosa B.Heyne ex Roth

Common Name:

Pavetta indica
Growing as a shrub in Nong Nooch Tropical Garden. Thailand.
Photograph by: Pescov
Creative Commons License
Pavetta indica Pavetta indica Pavetta indica Pavetta indica Pavetta indica

General Information

Pavetta indica is an evergreen shrub or small tree that can grow from 3 - 5 metres tall[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]
The plant has a range of medicinal uses and other minor traditional uses. It is often cultivated as an ornamental[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka, ?Philippines

Habitat

Common in primary and secondary forests, where it often forms a single stem, but also found in open localities, where branched types are more common; at elevations from sea-level to 1,500 metres[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height2.50 m
PollinatorsLepidoptera
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details


Grows best in a sunny position, preferring a humus-rich, well-drained soil[
974
Title
Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants
Publication
 
Author
Ahmed Fayaz
Publisher
Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand
Year
2011
ISBN
978-1-55407-489
Description
A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference.
].
Many Pavetta species, including this one, produce leaves with bacterial nodes - these bacteria live in symbiosis with the plant and pass into any seeds that are produced, thus seedlings are already inocculated with the bacteria[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. It is not certain what function the bacteria play, theories include nitrogen-fixation, growth-regulation and making the leaves poisonous to livestock[
295
Title
PlantZAfrica.com
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Pavetta indica is confined to India and Sri Lanka - there are several closely related species in other areas formerly considered its range, from southern China through southeast Asia to Australia.
In Java, there are Pavetta axillaris Bremek.; Pavetta montana Reinw. Ex Blume; Pavetta reinwardtii Bremek.; Pavetta subvelutina Miq.; and Pavetta sylvatica Blume.
Plants from China, previously treated as Pavetta indica, belong to the species Pavetta hongkongensis Bremek.[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].

Edible Uses

The fruit has a sweet taste when ripe, and is also used as a condiment when kept in vinegar[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. The black fruit is a globose drupe, 5 - 6mm in diameter[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

The flowers are eaten[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Medicinal

The naming of this species is rather controversial - see the nomenclatural notes above for more information. Many of the medicinal uses listed here could be more properly referred to one or more of the species that grow in the region where the use is recorded, although it is more than likely that all the species have very similar uses and properties and can be used interchangeably[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

A decoction of the leaves is drunk during the first days after childbirth as a protective medicine. It is also taken when the birth is delayed and as a treatment for fever[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The leaves are used for poulticing boils[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. A cooled decoction of the leaves is applied as a wash to ulcers of the nose and topically to treat haemorrhoidal pains[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
360
Title
Philippine Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
].

The root is considered aperient, diuretic, purgative and tonic[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. It is prescribed in the treatment of intestinal obstructions, constipation, jaundice, headache, urinary diseases and dropsy[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
360
Title
Philippine Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
]. The crushed root bark, combined with rice water and ginger, is taken as a diuretic and for the treatment of dropsy[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The root, root bark or stem bark can alsl be used as a treatment for intestinal obstructions[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The roots are used for poulticing stubborn itch[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

A poultice of the stem bark is applied topically for soothing haemorrhoids[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

An infusion of the thinly cut wood is taken as a treatment for rheumatism[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

A sttudy of the methanol extract of the plant has shown antiinflammatory activity comparable to the standard non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin[
360
Title
Philippine Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
]. This extract has also shown antipyretic activity[
360
Title
Philippine Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
].
A study of the ethanolic extract of the leaf showed significant dose-dependent inhibition of pain response[
360
Title
Philippine Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
].
Flavonoids in the plant have demonstrated effective diuretic activity[
360
Title
Philippine Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
].
N essential oil in the plant yielded 24 compounds - the major constituents Alpha-pinene (25.45%), Alpha-eudesmol (7.06%) and tricyclene (5.74%)[
360
Title
Philippine Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
].

Agroforestry Uses:

The leaves provide a good green mulch[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Other Uses

An infusion of the fragrant flowers is used as a cosmetic after bathing[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings of half-ripe wood taken at a node.
Air-layering.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-23. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Pavetta+indica&redir=Ixora+pavetta>

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