Embelia ribes
Burm.f.
Primulaceae
Embelia garciniifolia Wall. ex Miq.
Embelia glandulifera Wight
Common Name: Memory Improver
Close-up of a flowering stem
Photograph by: Vinayaraj
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Close-up of a flowering stem
Photograph by: Vinayaraj
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Leaves at the base of the plant
Photograph by: Vinayaraj
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Climbing up a tree
Photograph by: Vinayaraj
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Flowering stems
Photograph by: Vinayaraj
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Scrambling over the ground
Photograph by: Vinayaraj
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
General Information
Memory improver is a scandent shrub or climbing plant producing stems up to 20 metres long[
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.
]. These stems can scramble over the ground, or climb into the surrounding vegetation.
The plant is much used in Ayurvedic medicine and is also harvested by local people for its range of edible uses[
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.
].
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, India, Malaysia, Indo-China and Indonesia.
Habitat
Forest or at forest borders at elevations from sea level to 1,500 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
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Climber |
| Height | 15.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Edible Uses
Young leaves and shoots - raw[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. Often used as a side-dish with rice, when the leaves are usually mixed with other greens[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. An acid flavour, the leaves can be used as a substitute for tamarind in soups and vegetable dishes[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
Fruit - raw[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. A sour-sweet flavour, they are eaten as a delicacy, mostly by children[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
,
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 dried fruit is used as an adulterant of black pepper[
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.
,
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
A sweet, refreshing drink can be prepared from the leaves and the fruits[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
The young stems are chewed as a delicacy[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
Medicinal
The dried berries (seeds) are alterative, anthelmintic, carminative and stimulant[
304- Title
- Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kapoor. L. D.
- Publisher
- CRC Press, Florida.
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-8493-2929-9
- Description
- A very detailed book on some of the key Ayurvedic herbs, giving both technical and non-technical information on each plant. The whole is very well referenced.
]. An aqueous extract of the berries has shown antifertility activity[
304- Title
- Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kapoor. L. D.
- Publisher
- CRC Press, Florida.
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-8493-2929-9
- Description
- A very detailed book on some of the key Ayurvedic herbs, giving both technical and non-technical information on each plant. The whole is very well referenced.
]. The powdered berries are widely used to kill tapeworms - castor oil is taken later in order to expel the dead worm[
304- Title
- Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kapoor. L. D.
- Publisher
- CRC Press, Florida.
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-8493-2929-9
- Description
- A very detailed book on some of the key Ayurvedic herbs, giving both technical and non-technical information on each plant. The whole is very well referenced.
,
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.
]. A paste of the berries is used to treat skin problems such as ringworm[
304- Title
- Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kapoor. L. D.
- Publisher
- CRC Press, Florida.
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-8493-2929-9
- Description
- A very detailed book on some of the key Ayurvedic herbs, giving both technical and non-technical information on each plant. The whole is very well referenced.
]. The paste, mixed with oil, has been used as a poultice to treat headaches[
304- Title
- Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kapoor. L. D.
- Publisher
- CRC Press, Florida.
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-8493-2929-9
- Description
- A very detailed book on some of the key Ayurvedic herbs, giving both technical and non-technical information on each plant. The whole is very well referenced.
].
The pulp is purgative[
304- Title
- Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kapoor. L. D.
- Publisher
- CRC Press, Florida.
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-8493-2929-9
- Description
- A very detailed book on some of the key Ayurvedic herbs, giving both technical and non-technical information on each plant. The whole is very well referenced.
].
The fresh juice is cooling, diuretic and laxative[
304- Title
- Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kapoor. L. D.
- Publisher
- CRC Press, Florida.
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-8493-2929-9
- Description
- A very detailed book on some of the key Ayurvedic herbs, giving both technical and non-technical information on each plant. The whole is very well referenced.
].
The leaves, combined with ginger, have been used as a mouth wash to treat ulcers and sore throats[
304- Title
- Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kapoor. L. D.
- Publisher
- CRC Press, Florida.
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-8493-2929-9
- Description
- A very detailed book on some of the key Ayurvedic herbs, giving both technical and non-technical information on each plant. The whole is very well referenced.
].
A paste of the bark is applied to the chest to treat lung diseases such as pneumonia[
304- Title
- Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kapoor. L. D.
- Publisher
- CRC Press, Florida.
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-8493-2929-9
- Description
- A very detailed book on some of the key Ayurvedic herbs, giving both technical and non-technical information on each plant. The whole is very well referenced.
].
An infusion of the roots is given to treat coughs and diarrhoea[
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.
].
A major component of the ayurvedic medicine Amrit kalash[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
Other Uses
The crushed fresh bark is used to repel leeches[
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.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
