Pergularia daemia
| Trellis-vine | |
|---|---|
 | |
| In Limpopo, South Africa | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asclepiadoideae |
| Genus: | Pergularia |
| Species: | P. daemia |
| Binomial name | |
| Pergularia daemia (Forssk.) Chiov. | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The Trellis-vine (Pergularia daemia) is a hispid, perennial vine in the Apocynaceae family, with an extensive range in the Old World tropics and subtropics.[1] It has been used traditionally to treat a number of ailments.[1]
Range and habitat
It occurs from the Malay Peninsula to Burma, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan through Arabia and Egypt to central and southern Africa.[2] It is found along roadsides, in woodland or along riparian forest fringes.[3]
Description
The opposite[1] and broadly ovate to suborbicular leaves are very variable in size, with petioles of varying length. The leaves are almost glabrous above and velvety below.[2]
In the northern hemisphere the flowers appear from mid to late winter, and these are carried on lateral cymes. The flower corolla forms a greenish-yellow or dull white tube.[2] The fruit mature after some 13 to 14 months[1] when they release ovate seeds covered with velvety hairs.[2]
Phytochemical properties
Terpenoids, flavonoids, sterols and cardenolids are among the chemicals that have been isolated from the either leaves, stems, shoots, roots, seeds or fruit.[1] Traditionally it has been used as an elmintic, laxative, antipyretic and expectorant, besides treatment of infantile diarrhoea, malarial intermittent fevers, toothaches and colds.[1] Studies have shown hepatoprotective, antifertility, anti-diabetic, analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties of substances in its aerial parts.[1]
Associated species
The larvae of the African monarch butterfly (D. c. aegyptius) feed on this species.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Bhaskar, V.H. & Balakrishnan, N. (Oct-Dec 2009). "Veliparuthi (Pergularia daemia (Forsk.) Chiov.) – As a phytomedicine: A review". International Journal of PharmTech Research 1 (4): 305-1313. ISSN 0974-4304. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Pergularia daemia (Forssk.) Chiov.". Flora of Pakistan. efloras.org. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
- ↑ Hyde, M., et al. "Pergularia daemia (Forssk.) Chiov.". Flora of Zimbabwe. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
External links
- Pergularia daemia in West African plants – A Photo Guide.
- Pergularia daemia (Forssk.) Chiov. subsp. garipensis (E.Mey.) Goyder, Kyffhäuser
Media related to Pergularia daemia at Wikimedia Commons