Common Name:

General Information

Homonoia riparia can be a gregarious, deciduous shrub, or a small, crooked and twisted tree, growing 1 - 4 metres tall and forming a woody, deep and extensive root system[].
The shrub provides a number of popular local medicines, which are gathered from wild plants[]. It is planted in Java and Sumatra in order to protect riverbanks and prevent soil erosion[].
Homonoia riparia is widely distributed, common and without any threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2020)[].

Known Hazards

The bark contains cyanogenic glycosides[].

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern China, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines.

Habitat

Restricted to river banks, lake shores and rocky stream beds[]. It is found under ever-wet and seasonal climatic condition, preferring exposed sunny sites on stream banks and in stream beds in not too deep or too swift streams[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Found in lowland tropical areas at elevations up to 500 metres[].
It occurs in the wild on sand, granite, shale, andesite, and other volcanic-derived material, but also on calcareous soil[].
In its natural habitat it is regularly flooded, at least annually[]. Its extended root system protects it against uprooting during floods; even floods that completely submerge the shrub during the rainy season for up to 9 months per year can be withstood[].
The seeds are very hard and durable; they sink in water and may be transported by the river into even the sea, where they can still germinate in salt water along the coast[].

Edible Uses

Leaves are eaten as a vegetable[].

Medicinal

A root decoction acts as an emetic[]. The root decoction of this plant is used as laxative and diuretic and also used in the treatment of piles, stone in the bladder, gonorrhea, syphilis and thirst[]

A decoction of the leaves is used against itches and skin diseases[]. The stems and leaves are applied as a purgative[].
The leaves were used to blacken teeth and to fix loose ones[, ].
The pounded leaves and sometimes fruits are applied as a poultice against skin diseases[, ]. A decoction of the leaves and fruits is similarly effective[].
Stem and leaves are used as a medicine to depurate the skin of diseases[].

An infusion of the wood is used against malaria and scabies[, ].

Agroforestry Uses:

Because of its long and extended root system, this species is planted along rivers and streams to stabilize and protect the banks[].

Other Uses

The seeds contain a fatty oil[, ].

Most parts of the plant have a high tannin content[, ].

The sap serves in Java for dyeing the teeth black[].

The bark is made into ropes[].

Young shoots and leaves are a component of a hair oil in Cambodia[]. A hair oil is produced from the young leaves and shoots[].

The root is used to make handles[].

The grey-brown wood is moderately hard and close-grained[].
The stems and branches are used for fuel[]. A good source of firewood because the woody roots, stems and branches are hard and have a high energy value[].

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings.

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