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Useful Tropical Plants

Ohwia caudata

(Thunb.) H.Ohashi

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Catenaria caudata (Thunb.) Schindl.

Catenaria laburnifolia (Poir.) Benth.

Catenaria laburnifolium (Poir.) Benth.

Desmodium caudatum (Thunb.) DC.

Desmodium laburnifolium (Poir.) DC.

Hedysarum caudatum Murray

Hedysarum caudatum Thunb.

Hedysarum laburnifolium Poir.

Meibomia caudata (Thunb.) Kuntze

Meibomia laburnifolia (Poir.) Kuntze

Common Name:

Ohwia caudata
Leaves
Photograph by: A16898
Creative Commons License
Ohwia caudata Ohwia caudata

General Information

Ohwia caudata is a much-branched, erect, deciduous plant with ascending to spreading, more or less woody stems that persist. It can grow from 100 - 200cm tall[
58
Title
Flora of Japan. (English translation)
Publication
 
Author
Ohwi. G.
Publisher
Smithsonian Institution
Year
1965
ISBN
-
Description
The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
,
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 harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and a pesticide.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

58
Title
Flora of Japan. (English translation)
Publication
 
Author
Ohwi. G.
Publisher
Smithsonian Institution
Year
1965
ISBN
-
Description
The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
,
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, southern Japan, southern Korea, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Habitat

Woods in C. and S. Japan[
58
Title
Flora of Japan. (English translation)
Publication
 
Author
Ohwi. G.
Publisher
Smithsonian Institution
Year
1965
ISBN
-
Description
The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
]. Mountain slopes, roadsides, grasslands, streamsides and forest margins; at elevations from 100 - 1,000 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.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitDeciduous Shrub
Height1.50 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Ohwia caudata is native from the warm temperate zones of China, Japan and Korea into the tropical climate of Indonesia.
Requires a well-drained soil and a sunny sheltered position[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Tolerates soils of low fertility.
Because of the abundant small uncinate hairs on most species, the seedpods cling most tenaciously to clothing, to any part of the human body, and also to the feathers and hair of various animals, thus ensuring a wide dispersal of the plants[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[
755
Title
Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en
Publisher
United States Department of Agriculture
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Ohwia caudata is a traditional Chinese medicine that has long been used to treat a range of conditions. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that the plant contains a large number of medicinally active compounds including flavonoids, alkaloids, and triterpenoids[
2076
Title
Pharmacognostical study of Desmodium caudatum
Publication
An Acad Bras Cienc 91: e20180637, 2019
Author
Li J, Lin X, Tang G, Li R, Wang D AND Ji S.
Website
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765201920180637
Publisher
 
Year
2019
ISBN
1678-2690
Description
 
,
2077
Title
Systems Pharmacological Approach to Investigate the Mechanism of Ohwia caudata for Application to Alzheimer’s Diseas
Publication
Molecules 2019, 24, 1499; doi:10.3390/molecules24081499
Author
Sun Y. et al
Website
http://10.3390/molecules24081499
Publisher
 
Year
2019
ISBN
 
Description
 
].
Several of these compounds have been shown to have a positive effect in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, these compounds have also been shown to work together synergisticly, giving then better oral bioavailability and blood-brain barrier permeability, making them more effective in the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease[
2077
Title
Systems Pharmacological Approach to Investigate the Mechanism of Ohwia caudata for Application to Alzheimer’s Diseas
Publication
Molecules 2019, 24, 1499; doi:10.3390/molecules24081499
Author
Sun Y. et al
Website
http://10.3390/molecules24081499
Publisher
 
Year
2019
ISBN
 
Description
 
].
The compounds have also shown activity against MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and inhibitory activity against the filmforming growth of Zygosaccharomyces rouxii F51[
2076
Title
Pharmacognostical study of Desmodium caudatum
Publication
An Acad Bras Cienc 91: e20180637, 2019
Author
Li J, Lin X, Tang G, Li R, Wang D AND Ji S.
Website
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765201920180637
Publisher
 
Year
2019
ISBN
1678-2690
Description
 
].
Flavonoids derived from the plant have shown inhibitory activity against type A influenza virus infection. In particular, the flavonoids 20-hydroxyl yokovanol and yokovanol have ben shown to inhibit viral protein activity. These compounds may be useful as a therapeutic agent or prophylactic agents to limit viral infection[
2078
Title
Protective Effect of Flavonoids from Ohwia caudata against Influenza a Virus Infection
Publication
Molecules 2020, 25, 4387; doi:10.3390/molecules25194387
Author
Kwon E.B. et al
Website
http://10.3390/molecules25194387
Publisher
 
Year
2020
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

The stems and roots are analgesic, antifungal, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antipyretic, antiseptic, depurative and diuretic[
218
Title
Medicinal Plants of China
Publication
 
Author
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S.
Publisher
Reference Publications, Inc.
Year
1985
ISBN
0-917256-20-4
Description
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
,
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.
,
2076
Title
Pharmacognostical study of Desmodium caudatum
Publication
An Acad Bras Cienc 91: e20180637, 2019
Author
Li J, Lin X, Tang G, Li R, Wang D AND Ji S.
Website
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765201920180637
Publisher
 
Year
2019
ISBN
1678-2690
Description
 
]. They are used traditionally in the treatment of various conditions including colds, fevers, rheumatic backache, gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, dysentery, icterohepatitis, abscesses, snake bites, mastitis, boils and carbuncles[
2076
Title
Pharmacognostical study of Desmodium caudatum
Publication
An Acad Bras Cienc 91: e20180637, 2019
Author
Li J, Lin X, Tang G, Li R, Wang D AND Ji S.
Website
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765201920180637
Publisher
 
Year
2019
ISBN
1678-2690
Description
 
,
2077
Title
Systems Pharmacological Approach to Investigate the Mechanism of Ohwia caudata for Application to Alzheimer’s Diseas
Publication
Molecules 2019, 24, 1499; doi:10.3390/molecules24081499
Author
Sun Y. et al
Website
http://10.3390/molecules24081499
Publisher
 
Year
2019
ISBN
 
Description
 
,
2078
Title
Protective Effect of Flavonoids from Ohwia caudata against Influenza a Virus Infection
Publication
Molecules 2020, 25, 4387; doi:10.3390/molecules25194387
Author
Kwon E.B. et al
Website
http://10.3390/molecules25194387
Publisher
 
Year
2020
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Other Uses

The roots and leaves are used as a pesticide[
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.
].
In a trial, a methane extract of the leaves at a concentration of 10,000ppm in distilled water reduced the egg hatching of root nematodes by 94% after 21 days compared with a control[
1424
Title
Inhibition of Meliodogyne incognita Egg Hatching by Herbal Extracts
Publication
The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science Vol 12, 2 pp 155-161, 2008
Author
Elbadri G.A.A.; Dong Woon Lee; Jung Chan Park; Ho Yul Choo;
Publisher
 
Year
2008
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed develops a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing.
The seed usually germinates within 1 - 4 months at 25°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on until large enough to plant out.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel.
Division. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on until they are rooting well.
Root cuttings.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-12. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Ohwia+caudata>

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