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Useful Tropical Plants

Tylophora indica

(Burm.f.) Merr.

Apocynaceae

+ Synonyms

Apocynum reticulatum Lour.

Asclepias asthmatica L.f.

Cynanchum indicum Burm.f.

Tylophora asthmatica (L.f.) Wight & Arn.

Common Name: Indian Ipecac

Tylophora indica
Close-up of the flowers
Photograph by: J.M.Garg
GNU Free Documentation License
Tylophora indica Tylophora indica

General Information

Tylophora indica is a slender, hairy or glabrous branching climber, producing stems up to 1.5 metres tall from a short rhizome that is 3 - 4mm thick[
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 plant is used locally as a source of fibre and medicines.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam.

Habitat

Common along the coast on sandy soils, particularly on stabilized dunes and in sandy coconut plantations at elevations up to 900 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

Medicinal Rating *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitClimber
Height1.50 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

A plant of mainly lowland elevations in the tropics, though it can be found at elevations up to 900 metres.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The roots possess stimulant, emetic (in larger doses), cathartic (in smaller doses), expectorant, stomachic and diaphoretic properties and are used in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, dysentery 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.
,
615
Title
Pharmacographia Indica
Publication
 
Author
Dymock W.; Warden C.J.H.; Hooper D.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Education Society's Press, Byculla; Mombai.
Year
1890
ISBN
 
Description
Information on the principal plant medicines encountered in India in the 19th century.
].
The root is used in similar ways to Ipecac (Carapichea ipecacuanha)[
240
Title
Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
Publication
 
Author
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
Publisher
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
Year
1986
ISBN
-
Description
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
]. The roots of ipecac contain a number of medically active constituents including isoquinoline alkaloids, tannins and glycosides[
254
Title
The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
Chevallier. A.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley. London
Year
1996
ISBN
9-780751-303148
Description
An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
]. They have a violently irritant action, stimulating the gastric and bronchial systems, lowering fevers and preventing cyst formation in amoebic dysentery[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].

Other Uses

A fine, silky, strong fibre is obtained from the stems[
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 -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-05. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Tylophora+indica>

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