Quisqualis indica

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Rangoon Creeper

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Combretaceae
Genus:	Quisqualis
Species:	Q. indica

Binomial name

Quisqualis indica

1 Common Names
2 Description
3 Uses
4 References

[edit] Common Names

Quisqualis indica is called (in English) Chinese honeysuckle or Rangoon Creeper, (in Spanish) quiscual, (in Filipino)) niyog-niyogan, Madhu Malti or Madhumalti (in Hindi) .

[edit] Description

The niyog-niyogan is a ligneous vine that can reach from 2.5 meters to up to 8 meters. The leaves are elliptical with a accuminate tip and a rounded base. They grow from 7 to 15 centimeters and their arrangement is opposite. The flowers are fragrant and tubular and their color varies from white to pink to red. The 30 to 35 mm long fruit is ellipsoidal and has five prominent wings. The fruit tastes like almonds when mature. The niyog-niyogan is usually dispersed by water.

Quiscual is found in thickets or secondary forests of the Philippines, India and Malaysia. It has since been cultivated and naturalized in tropical areas.

[edit] Uses

The plant is mainly used for traditional medicine. Decoctions of the root, seed or fruit can be used as antihelmintic or for alleviating diarrhea. Fruit decoction can also be used for gargling. The fruits are also used to combat nephritis. Leaves can be used to relieve pain caused by fever. The roots are used to treat rheumatism.