Lagerstroemia speciosa

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Lagerstroemia speciosa
Flowers on a tree in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, where it is locally called Jarul.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Lythraceae
Genus: Lagerstroemia
Species: L. speciosa
Binomial name
Lagerstroemia speciosa
(L.) Pers.
Synonyms[1]
  • Adambea glabra Lam.
  • Lagerstroemia augusta Wall. nom. inval.
  • Lagerstroemia flos-reginae Retz.
  • Lagerstroemia macrocarpa Wall. nom. inval.
  • Lagerstroemia major Retz.
  • Lagerstroemia munchausia Willd.
  • Lagerstroemia plicifolia Stokes
  • Lagerstroemia reginae Roxb.
  • Munchausia speciosa L.

Lagerstroemia speciosa (Giant Crape-myrtle, Queen's Crape-myrtle, Banabá Plant for Philippines, or Pride of India[2]) is a species of Lagerstroemia native to tropical southern Asia.

Growth

Bark in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

It is a small to medium-sized tree growing to 20 metres (66 ft) tall, with smooth, flaky bark. The leaves are deciduous, oval to elliptic, 8–15 cm (3.1–5.9 in) long and 3–7 cm (1.2–2.8 in) broad, with an acute apex. The flowers are produced in erect panicles 20–40 cm (7.9–15.7 in) long, each flower with six white to purple petals 2–3.5 cm (0.79–1.38 in) long.

Cultivation and uses

It is grown in South East Asia, India and the Philippines. It is also widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical areas.

Banabá has a long history of folkloric medical applications that include blood pressure control, urinary dysfunctions (helps ease urination), cholesterol level control, treatment of diarrhea, facilitates bowel movement, diabetes and as an analgesic.[3] The primary active chemical ingredient of the extract is corosolic acid, and there are also numerous possible synergists including lager-stroemin, flosin B and reginin A.[citation needed] The leaves of the Banabá and other parts are used widely by the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan as a tea preparation. Banabá herb is one of the 69 herbal plants promoted by the Philippine Department of Health (DOH).[4] Corosolic acid is a known potent glucophage, helpful in decreasing blood sugar levels.

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. — The Plant List
  2. ↑ "Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. pride of India." PLANTS Profile, United States Department of Agriculture / Natural Resources Conservation Service. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  3. ↑ "Banaba". medicalhealthguide.com. Retrieved 2012-08-15. 
  4. ↑ Eduardo B. Principe and Aurora S. Jose (2002). "Propagation Management Of Herbal and Medicinal Plants". Research Information Series On Ecosystems 14 (2). Retrieved 25 January 2013. 
  • Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening 3: 10.
  • P. Campagna. Farmaci vegetali. Minerva Medica ed. Torino 2008

External links

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