Wikstroemia indica
(L.) C.A.Mey.
Thymelaeaceae
Capura purpurata L.
Daphne cannabina Lour.
Daphne indica L.
Daphne zhouana Halda
Diplomorpha viridiflora (Wall. ex Meisn.) C.A.Mey.
Wikstroemia amplifolia (Schltr.) Domke
Wikstroemia forsteri Decne.
Wikstroemia linearifolia Elmer
Wikstroemia novae-caledoniae Gand.
Wikstroemia pachyphylla Merr.
Wikstroemia pulgarensis Elmer
Wikstroemia purpurata (L.) Druce
Wikstroemia shuttleworthiana Meisn.
Wikstroemia shuttleworthii Meisn.
Wikstroemia subcoriacea Merr.
Wikstroemia valbrayi H.Lév.
Wikstroemia viridiflora Wall. ex Meisn.
Xylosma cochine Lour. ex Gomes Mach.
Common Name:
General Information
Wikstroemia indica is an evergreen shrub usually growing from 50 - 200cm tall, sometimes more[
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 source of materials. In particular, the fibre obtained from the inner bark of this and several other related species is especially suitable for making a high quality paper. The fibrous bark has at times been exported in quantity from the Philippines to Japan, where it is used in the manufacture of bank notes and other strong papers[
345- Title
- Minor Products of Philippine Forests
- Publication
-
- Author
- Brown. W. H.
- Publisher
- Bureau of Forestry, Manilla.
- Year
- 1920
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A useful guide to some of the plants of the area, though terse on details. The book is out of copyright and can be legally downloaded from the Internet.
].
Known Hazards
The leaves and the fruit are toxic[
440- Title
- Brisbane Rainforest Action and Information Network,
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on plants in the Queensland Rainforests.
].
Cases have been reported of children dying after eating the fruits of this plant[
713- Title
- Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.anbg.gov.au/cpbr/cd-keys/rfk/index.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An online resource giving botanical information, and a little bit about plant usage, for over 2,700 species of plants found in the Australian rainforest.
].
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 - India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, southern China, Phillipines, Malaysia, Indonesia to New Guinea and Australia
Habitat
Rainforest margins and wet Eucalypt forest, on poor soils in northeastern Australia[
440- Title
- Brisbane Rainforest Action and Information Network,
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on plants in the Queensland Rainforests.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Shrub |
| Height | 1.50 m |
| Pollinators | Apomixy |
| Self-fertile | Yes |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Wikstroemia species generally grow best in a moist, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade[
974- Title
- Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ahmed Fayaz
- Publisher
- Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 978-1-55407-489
- Description
- A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The leaves are particularly suitable for external use in poultices against furunculosis and phlegmon. They are crushed and mixed with peanut oil to alleviate their irritant action[
283- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Vietnam
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 92 9061 101 4
- Description
- An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
].
The leaves are used fresh and can be harvested as required throughout the year[
283- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Vietnam
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 92 9061 101 4
- Description
- An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
].
Other Uses
The leaves can be used as an insecticide in agriculture[
283- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Vietnam
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 92 9061 101 4
- Description
- An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
].
The smooth trunk has a tough bark that can be torn off in strips and used as string[
440- Title
- Brisbane Rainforest Action and Information Network,
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on plants in the Queensland Rainforests.
].
The fibre from the inner bark is light colored and has a somewhat silky appearance. It can be used for making rope etc and to make a high quality paper[
345- Title
- Minor Products of Philippine Forests
- Publication
-
- Author
- Brown. W. H.
- Publisher
- Bureau of Forestry, Manilla.
- Year
- 1920
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A useful guide to some of the plants of the area, though terse on details. The book is out of copyright and can be legally downloaded from the Internet.
]. It has at times been harvested in quantity for making bank notes and other strong papers[
345- Title
- Minor Products of Philippine Forests
- Publication
-
- Author
- Brown. W. H.
- Publisher
- Bureau of Forestry, Manilla.
- Year
- 1920
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A useful guide to some of the plants of the area, though terse on details. The book is out of copyright and can be legally downloaded from the Internet.
].
Thw wood is of a deep red colour, and coarse-grained, though rather small[
601- Title
- The Useful Native Plants of Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Maiden J.H.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Turner & Co.; London.
- Year
- 1889
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Terse details of the uses of many Australian plants and other species naturalised, or at least growing, in Australia. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
