Common Name: Ti

General Information

Cordyline fruticosa is an evergreen shrub or small tree which can be unbranched or freely-branched[]. It grows from 1 - 5 metres tall[].
The plant is commonly utilised by local people for a wide range of uses. It is also widely cultivated in the moist tropics and subtropics as an ornamental plant, there are many named varieties[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - India, Malaysia, Indo-China to Australia and the Pacific Islands.

Habitat

Often abundant in various types of forest (dry, dense, edges), on forested ridges, in thickets, and sometimes near beaches at elevations from sea level to 1,100 metres in Fiji[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	5.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny or lightly shaded position[]. Cultivars with coloured leaves need to be grown in full sun in order to bring out the full extent of their colouring[].
Plants can flower and fruit al year round[].
A very variable species[]. Some forms are cultivated for their large, tuberous roots[].

Edible Uses

The root contains a high proportion of sugars[]. When baked, it has a flavour not unlike molasses and is eaten like this or used as a sweetener in puddings and other foods[]. The root is baked for up to four days in earthen ovens to be consumed as food, sweets, refreshment, or confectionery[]. The tuberous root can weigh 4.5 - 6.5 kilos[].
A fermented drink is make from the sweet roots[, ].

Young leaves are cooked and eaten as a potherb[]. They are free of any pronounced flavour and can also be used to wrap around other foods whilst they are baked[, ].

Medicinal

An infusion of the leaves is used as a remedy for swellings, inflammations and for dry fevers[]. The juice of the leaves is used to treat colds and coughs, stomach-ache, eczema and gastritis[]. An infusion of three crushed leaves of the purple cultivar is used to treat high blood pressure[].
The leaf buds are used to treat lower chest pains[]. Filariasis is treated with a solution made from the new plant shoots[].
Applied externally, the juice of the leaves is used to treat earache and infected eyes[]. An infusion of the leaves in oil is used to treat wounds[]. The leaves are crushed with oil and applied to abscesses of the gums[]. The lower portion of the leaf is macerated in olive oil and used as a cataplasm or tampon for treating wounds[].

Liquid from the stem is used to treat sickness after childbirth and also to help expel the afterbirth[].

The root is used to treat inflammations, baldness, toothache and laryngitis[]. Pieces of the root, soaked in vinegar, are used to make a preparation against bleeding[].

The plant contains steroidal saponins[].

Agroforestry Uses:

An ornamental plant that is often used in hedges[].

Other Uses

The leaves are made into fringed skirts, especially for ceremonial occasions[, , ].

The leaves are sometimes used as plates or trays upon which food is spread[, ]. They are free of any pronounced taste, and so are also used to wrap food that is going to be baked[].

The leaves are sometimes used for thatch[].

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for about 10 minutes in warm water and sow in pots. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 25°c[]. There is usually a good percentage germination[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on until they are at least 10cm tall before planting them out.
Stem cuttings - cut off the main stem just below the head and then saw off 5cm thick blocks of stem and place them 3cm deep in pure peat in a shaded position. Keep them moist until they are rooting well, then pot them up into individual pots. Plant out when they are making good growth.
Suckers.

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.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: 10 times itself is?