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Useful Tropical Plants

Commicarpus chinensis

(L.) Heimerl

Nyctaginaceae


There is some disagreement over the correct name for this species. We are following the treatment in the Flora of China[
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.
], but some other treatments use Boerhavia chinensis (L.) Rottb., as the correct name (treated here as a synonym)

+ Synonyms

Boerhavia bastica Buch.-Ham. ex Wall.

Boerhavia chinensis (L.) Rottb.

Boerhavia repanda Willd.

Commicarpus repandus (Willd.) Standl.

Valeriana chinensis L.

Common Name: Thazhuthama

Commicarpus chinensis
Drawing of the leaves and flowers
Photograph by: Flora Malesiana, vol. 6(3): p. 453, fig. 1 (1964) [R. van Crevel]
Creative Commons License
Commicarpus chinensis Commicarpus chinensis

General Information

Commicarpus chinensis is a spreading, perennial plant with thick-stemmed branches up to 1 metre tall[
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.
]. An erect or rambling, sometimes climbing plant, usually to 1 metre but sometimes reaching 4 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.
].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine.

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, Pakistan, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Habitat

Open places and forests in southern China[
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 plant is found especially in regions with a distinctly seasonal climate, in dry localities, hedges, brushwood, field margins and monsoon forest, on sandy clay and limestone soils, up to 700 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

Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitPerennial
Height1.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Leaves and young shoots. They are cut into small pieces and cooked with salt and chilli, and garnished with mustard seeds, curry leaves and onions in oil[
1811
Title
Wild edible plants traditionally used by the tribes in the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Keala, India
Publication
Natural Product Radiance, Vol 6(1), 2007, pp. 74-80
Author
Yesodharan K. & Sujana K.A.
Publisher
 
Year
2007
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Medicinal

The leaves are crushed and applied to the skin as a remedy for scabies and itching body parts[
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

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-12. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Commicarpus+chinensis>

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