Plumbago zeylanica | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Core eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Plumbaginaceae |
Genus: | Plumbago |
Species: | P. zeylanica |
Binomial name | |
Plumbago zeylanica L. |
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Synonyms | |
Plumbago scandens L.[1] |
Plumbago zeylanica, commonly known as Ceylon Leadwort or Doctorbush,[2] is a species of plumbago with a pantropical distribution. Carl Linnaeus described the paleotropical P. zeylanica and neotropical P. scandens as separate species, but they are currently considered synonymous. Ceylon Leadwort is a herbaceous plant with glabrous stems that are climbing, prostrate, or erect. The leaves are petiolate or sessile and have ovate, lance-elliptic, or spatulate to oblanceolate blades that measure 5-9 × 2.5-4 cm in length. Bases are attenuate while apexes are acute, acuminate, or obtuse. Inflorescences are 3-15 cm in length and have glandular, viscid rachises. Bracts are lanceolate and 3-7 × 1-2 mm long. The heterostylous flowers have white corollas 17-33 mm in diameter and tubes 12.5-28 mm in length. Capsules are 7.5-8 mm long and contain are reddish brown to dark brown seeds.[1]
Plant extracts have shown potent mosquito larvicidal activity against the larvae of Aedes aegypti while showing no toxicity to fish[3]
Hexane extracts of Plumbago zeylanica have shown activity against canine distemper virus.[4]
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Plumbago_zeylanica Plumbago zeylanica] at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Plumbago zeylanica at Wikispecies