If you would like to support this site, please consider Donating.
Useful Tropical Plants

Strophanthus divaricatus

(Lour.) Hook. & Arn.

Apocynaceae

+ Synonyms

Emericia divaricata (Lour.) Roem. & Schult.

Faskia divaricata (Lour.) Lour. ex B.A.Gomes

Nerium chinense Hunter ex Roxb.

Pergularia divaricata Lour.

Strophanthus chinensis G.Don

Strophanthus dichotomus chinensis Ker

Strophanthus divergens Graham

Vallaris divaricata (Lour.) G.Don

Common Name:

Strophanthus divaricatus
Shrubby form of the flowering plant
Photograph by: KENPEI
Creative Commons License
Strophanthus divaricatus Strophanthus divaricatus Strophanthus divaricatus Strophanthus divaricatus

General Information

Strophanthus divaricatus varies in habit from a shrub that produces stolons to a climbing plant; the stems can be 5 metres long and up to 4cm 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 plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, whilst the seeds are the main ingredient of a Chinese medicinal preparation. The plant is sometimes cultivated in southeast Asia.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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.

Range

E. Asia - southern China, Laos, Vietnam.

Habitat

Primary and secondary forest as well as thickets and coastal scrubland, at elevations from sea level to 900 metres[
283
Title
Medicinal Plants in Vietnam
Publication
 
Author
Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu
Publisher
World Health Organisation
Year
1989
ISBN
92 9061 101 4
Description
An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
,
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

Medicinal Rating *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitClimber
Height4.00 m
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The leaves and seeds are used in folk medicine to treat scabies, rheumatism and swellings caused by falling or bites. In China, the seeds are the main constituent of the drug 'yang-chi'ao-ou' or 'yang jiao ao zi'. They are used to quicken the blood and disperse swelling, relieve itching and kill worms[
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.
].

Various parts of the plant are used as heart stimulants and to treat injury and snake bites[
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.
].
The seeds yield the glucoside, divaricoside, which yields sarmentogenin and L-oleandrose on hydrolysis, as well as
divostroside, caudoside and sinoside[
283
Title
Medicinal Plants in Vietnam
Publication
 
Author
Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu
Publisher
World Health Organisation
Year
1989
ISBN
92 9061 101 4
Description
An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
].
D-Strophantin is the purified glucosidal mixture extracted from the seeds. The drug enjoys a good reputation in the treatment of acute and chronic heart failure. It is also used for patients who are intolerant of digitalis preparations[
283
Title
Medicinal Plants in Vietnam
Publication
 
Author
Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu
Publisher
World Health Organisation
Year
1989
ISBN
92 9061 101 4
Description
An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
].

Other Uses

The seeds are used as an insecticide[
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 -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Strophanthus+divaricatus>

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.