Gomphostemma javanicum (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia
Introduction

Protologue: Labiat. gen. spec.: 650 (1835).

Synonyms

Gomphostemma oblongum Wallich ex Benth. (1830), Gomphostemma phlomoides (Reinw. ex Blume) Benth. (1835), Gomphostemma philippinarum Benth. (1848).

Vernacular names

Indonesia: galipung bulu (Sundanese), peper (Javanese), kopetan (Madurese)
Philippines: ata-ata (Tagalog), kagong (Bagobo), kasunisuni (Bukidnon)
Thailand: klon duu (Trang), khon non (Surat Thani), hom hok (Chiang Mai)
Vietnam: dinh hùng java.

Distribution

The Andaman Islands, southern Burma (Myanmar), Indo-China, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Bangka, Java, Bali, Borneo, south-western Sulawesi and the Philippines.

Uses

In Java the leaves are applied to wounds and the leaf juice is used internally to treat intestinal troubles. In the Philippines the leaf juice is applied to warts.

Observations

A large, perennial herb up to 200 cm tall, with erect, woody stem; leaves elliptical-oblong, ovate to obovate, 15-30 cm × 5-10 cm, crenate or crenate-serrate; calyx 1-1.5(-2) cm long, tube conspicuously ribbed, with lanceolate teeth, corolla 4-4.5(-5) cm long, tube broad, distinctly incurved with inflated throat; nutlets usually 4. G. javanicum occurs in shaded localities in rain forest or seasonal forest, up to 2400 m altitude.

Selected sources

247, 321, 334.

Main genus page

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Authors

Trimurti H. Wardini