The generic name is often mis-spelt as Rauwolfia[].
We are following the treatment in Middleton, D.J. (2014). Flore du Cambodge du Laos et du Viêt-Nam 33: 1-276. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris. This species is treated as a synonym of Rauvolfia verticillata (Lour.) Baill., in the Flora of China[].

Common Name:

General Information

Rauvolfia cambodiana is an erect, evergreen shrub growing around 50 - 150cm tall[].
The plant is often used in Vietnam in the treatment of hypertension and psychoses, being harvested from the wild and often traded.

Known Hazards

Although we have seen no specific information for this species, most if not all members of this genus contain poisonous alkaloids[].

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	1.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants can flower almost all year round[].
All parts of the plant yield a milky juice[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The root-bark is hypotensive and sedative. It is widely used in Vietnam for the treatment of hypertension and psychoses. It. is prescribed in the form of a 1.5% tincture or tablets containing 2mg total alkaloid and is taken for a period of 2 to 4 weeks. A new course of treatment is then instituted after a pause of 2 to 4 weeks[].
The root bark serves also as raw material for the extraction of reserpine and ajmaline[].

The root-bark can be harvested all year round, but especially in the autumn and winter. The roots are well washed, the bark stripped off and dried in the sun or in ovens. Care is taken to keep the periderm of the bark intact when the roots are being dug up[].

The root-bark contains 2.64% alkaloids, mostly reserpine and ajmaline[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - before sowing, the fruit pulp is removed by washing the seeds in water. The seeds are sown in seedling trays filled with a mixture of river sand and compost (1:1), and covered with a thin layer of sand or left on the surface. Germination is fast and reaches up to 80% after two weeks. The seedlings are transplanted into nursery bags when they reach the 3-leaf stage and are 25 - 30 cm tall. They need regular watering for the first 3 months after transplanting into the field. Seeds retain viability only for a short period of about 1 month at room temperature.

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