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Useful Tropical Plants

Chlorophytum borivilianum

Santapau & R.R.Fern.

Asparagaceae

+ Synonyms

Common Name: Safed Moosli

No Image.

General Information

Chlorophytum borivilianum is an evergreen perennial plant growing from a tuberous rootstock; it produces a clump of basal leaves and flowering stems that can be up to 45cm tall[
372
Title
Flowers of India
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.flowersofindia.net/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
].
This is one of several Chlorophytum species that are collectively known as ‘safed musli’ and are harvested in large quantities from the wild in India for their tubers, which are reputed to have a number of medicinal properties, particularly as a tonic. They are widely traded. This is one of the two main species harvested (the other is Chlorophytum tuberosum), though several other species are also used. The plant is also harvested for local use as a food and a medicine[
2022
Title
Indian Medicinal Plants; An Illustrated Dictionary
Publication
 
Author
Khare C.P. (Ed.)
Publisher
Springer-Verlag Berlin/Heidelberg
Year
2007
ISBN
978-0-387-70637-5
Description
 
]. This species is now being cultivated, and there is a heavy demand for organically grown safed musli with a high saponin content in both national and international market[
646
Title
New Crops FactSheets
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/default.html
Publisher
Purdue University
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website dedicated to giving information on potential new agricultural crops.
].
Although Indian forests are rich in safed moosli demand is increasing rapidly in Indian and international drug markets[
372
Title
Flowers of India
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.flowersofindia.net/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
]. The species was first described from India in 1954, but by 1988 the Botanical Survey of India had assigned it to the IUCN category Rare (according to criteria in operation at that time) due to overexploitation. The plant is currently classified as 'Critically Endangered' in the wild in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The plant is now cultivated for medicinal use, which has helped to reduce the collection of wild plant(2013)[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

E. Asia - western India (Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat)

Habitat

Shady, well-drained localities in deep, humus-rich soils in forests[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusCritically Endangered
Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Perennial
Height0.35 m
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Chlorophytum species require a frost free climate, and can succeed from the subtropical zone to the tropics, in moist to humid climates[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Species in this genus seem to be adapted to a wide range of conditions in cultivation, though they are generally found in soils rich in organic matter and can succeed in full sun or in shade[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
646
Title
New Crops FactSheets
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/default.html
Publisher
Purdue University
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website dedicated to giving information on potential new agricultural crops.
]
This species is increasingly being cultivated as a medicinal crop in India, especially in the rainy season, when a commercial root harvest can be obtained in 3 - 4 months from planting[
646
Title
New Crops FactSheets
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/default.html
Publisher
Purdue University
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website dedicated to giving information on potential new agricultural crops.
].
The collection of Chlorophytum roots from the wild for medicinal purposes is usually carried out before seed maturity, thus hampering natural regeneration and reducing native populations[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
In nature, Moosli propagates vegetatively through its fleshy roots., rarely by seed. The black angular seed is similar to onion seed in appearance. Seed have poor germination and low viability[
646
Title
New Crops FactSheets
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/default.html
Publisher
Purdue University
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website dedicated to giving information on potential new agricultural crops.
].

Edible Uses

Leaves

Medicinal

Chlorophytum borivilianum is one of several species of Chlorophytum known as 'safed musli' and commonly used in traditional Indian medicine. Safed musli holds an important position in Indian herbal medicine, where the tuber is valued mainly as a tonic, intended to give strength and vigour, and is widely used as a natural aphrodisiac. It is used in the treatment of general debility, diabetes and lactation problems[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. The regular use of this remedy is a valuable help in the treatment of impotency and premature ejaculation[
372
Title
Flowers of India
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.flowersofindia.net/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
]. The tuber is an integral part of more than 100 herbal drug formulations.[
372
Title
Flowers of India
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.flowersofindia.net/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
,
646
Title
New Crops FactSheets
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/default.html
Publisher
Purdue University
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website dedicated to giving information on potential new agricultural crops.
,
2022
Title
Indian Medicinal Plants; An Illustrated Dictionary
Publication
 
Author
Khare C.P. (Ed.)
Publisher
Springer-Verlag Berlin/Heidelberg
Year
2007
ISBN
978-0-387-70637-5
Description
 
].

The dried roots of Chlorophytum contain 42% carbohydrate, 8 - 9% protein, 3 - 4% fibre and 2 - 17% saponin[
646
Title
New Crops FactSheets
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/default.html
Publisher
Purdue University
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website dedicated to giving information on potential new agricultural crops.
].
Studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for the medicinal properties. Saponin content is thought to be highest in roots of forest origin[
646
Title
New Crops FactSheets
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/default.html
Publisher
Purdue University
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website dedicated to giving information on potential new agricultural crops.
].
Many native Indian species are sold as safed musli in the Indian drug market. Chlorophytum boriviliahum produces the highest yield and highest saponin content, other native species that are used include Chlorophytum arundinaceum, Chlorophytum breviscapum, Chlorophytum indicum, Chlorophytum laxum and Chlorophytum tuberosum[
646
Title
New Crops FactSheets
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/default.html
Publisher
Purdue University
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website dedicated to giving information on potential new agricultural crops.
]

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - only around 16% of seed produced is viable[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. Seed has a dormancy period of around 8 - 9 months after ripening, Sow in a tray, pricking out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. Grow on for the first year in the pot, planting out before the start of the rainy season. Most plants do not flower in their first year of growth, though 2 - 3% of the seedlings will flower within 3 months in cultivation.
Division of the tubers before the rainy season starts.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-11-10. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Chlorophytum+borivilianum>

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