Desmos chinensis
Lour.
Annonaceae
Annona laevigata Mart.
Artabotrys esquirolii H.Lév.
Desmos lawii (Hook.f. & Thomson) Saff.
Polyalthia lawii (Hook.f. & Thomson) Finet & Gagnep.
Unona amherstiana Wall. ex A.DC.
Unona biglandulosa Blume
Unona chinensis (Lour.) DC.
Unona cordifolia Roxb. ex Hook.f. & Thomson
Unona discolor Vahl
Unona laevigata Wall.
Unona lawii Hook.f. & Thomson
Unona lessertiana Dunal
Unona monilifera (Gaertn.) DC.
Unona moniliformis Steud.
Unona roxburghiana Wall.
Unona undulata Wall.
Uvaria amherstiana (Wall. ex A.DC.) Walp.
Uvaria cordifolia Roxb.
Uvaria discolor (Vahl) Walp.
Uvaria monilifera Gaertn.
Uvaria uncata Vahl ex DC.
Uvaria undulata Roxb.
Uvaria undulata Walp.
Waria zeylanica Aubl.
Xylopia laevigata (Hook.f. & Thomson) R.E.Fr.
Common Name:
Close-up of the flower
Photograph by: Vinayaraj
General Information
Desmos chinensis is a climbing shrub producing stems up to 4 metres long in 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 stems can be 24 metres long in Malaysia[
616- Title
- The Flora of the Malay Peninsula
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ridley H.N.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- L. Reeve & Co. Ltd.; London.
- Year
- 1922
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An early flora of the Malay Peninsula.
], and up to 40 metres in Borneo[
994- Title
- The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 64
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- Singapore Botanic Gardens; Singapore
- Year
- 2012
- ISBN
- 0374-7859
- Description
- A botanical journey containing various articles, including a treatment of the climbing species of Annonaceae in Malaysia.
].
The plant is used locally, being harvested from the wild for its essential oil, fibre, food and medicinal uses. It is also often grown in gardens as an ornamental, valued especially for its fragrant blooms.
Desmos chinensis The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2021)[
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
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.
,
994- Title
- The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 64
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- Singapore Botanic Gardens; Singapore
- Year
- 2012
- ISBN
- 0374-7859
- Description
- A botanical journey containing various articles, including a treatment of the climbing species of Annonaceae in Malaysia.
Range
E. Asia - southern China, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines
Habitat
Wastelands and thickets in valleys at elevations of 100 - 500 metres 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.
]. Open country and borders of woods and thickets at elevations up to 540 metres[
616- Title
- The Flora of the Malay Peninsula
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ridley H.N.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- L. Reeve & Co. Ltd.; London.
- Year
- 1922
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An early flora of the Malay Peninsula.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Climber |
| Height | 15.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Succeeds in full sun in any well-drained soil[
974- Title
- Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ahmed Fayaz
- Publisher
- Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 978-1-55407-489
- Description
- A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference.
]. Prefers a position in some shade.
Edible Uses
The fruits are used as a pepper-like condiment (Piper nigrum) to flavour food[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
The leaves are used in brewing liquor 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.
,
616- Title
- The Flora of the Malay Peninsula
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ridley H.N.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- L. Reeve & Co. Ltd.; London.
- Year
- 1922
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An early flora of the Malay Peninsula.
].
Medicinal
The roots and leaves are used medicinally[
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.
].
A decoction of the roots is used in the treatment of dysentery[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
Other Uses
The bast fibres are used for cordage[
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 essential oil obtained from the fragrant flowers is used in perfumery[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
