Common Name:

General Information

Alyxia pullei is an evergreen scrambling shrub, usually adopting a climbing habit and twining into the surrounding vegetation.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australasia - western New Guinea.

Habitat

An understorey plant in forests, found at elevations from 1,760 - 2,600 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	0.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers dappled, woodland shade[].

Edible Uses

We have seen no specific record for this species, but local wine industries sometimes use Alyxia to flavour their product with the coumarin substances found in the bark[].

Medicinal

The plant is used to alleviate stomach-ache[].

The compounds responsible for the fragrant smell of many Alyxia species are a mixture of isomeric coumarins which are particularly found in the bark[].
The presence of iridoid substances is also reported[].

Other Uses

Many species throughout the range of the genus are used in personal adornment and it is thought that the name Alyxia comes from the Greek 'halusis' meaning a chain, in reference to the making of leis in the Pacific. Leis are chains of leaves and the bark after it has been stripped off the wood. These are twisted around each other to form a decorative and scented chain for use on festive occasions[].

Propagation

Seed - the plant is easy to grow from seed, especially if the fruit pulp is removed prior to sowing[, ].
Cuttings of 5 - 8mm diameter and 10 - 15cm long are preferred. The cuttings are directly inserted to a depth of 2cm in a medium of equal parts soil and compost. The cuttings should be screened from direct sunlight and regularly sprayed to maintain humidity. After 2 weeks roots of 1cm length will have developed, and the first pair of leaves can be discerned after 3 weeks. The cuttings are ready for transplanting when 2 - 3 pairs of leaves have developed. Shade as well as frequency of watering can be gradually reduced[].

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