Scindapsus hederaceus (PROSEA)
Introduction |
Scindapsus hederaceus Schott
- Protologue: Bonplandia 5: 45 (1857).
- Family: Araceae
- Chromosome number: 2n= 64
Vernacular names
- Malaysia: akar lebang aleh, akar ular (Peninsular)
- Thailand: khokiu (Nakhon Si Thammarat)
- Vietnam: dây bá.
Origin and geographic distribution
S. hederaceus occurs in Indo-China, southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Java and Borneo; perhaps also in the Philippines.
Uses
In Peninsular Malaysia a decoction of the stem of S. hederaceus is used as a liniment to treat rheumatism.
S. officinalis Schott, widespread in India, Burma (Myanmar), northern Thailand, Indo-China and south-western China, is more commonly used in traditional medicine. In India, the fruit is credited with stimulant, diaphoretic, aphrodisiac, carminative and anthelmintic properties, and is used to stop diarrhoea and as an expectorant to treat asthma. It also has antiprotozoal activity and is applied externally to treat rheumatism. Fruits and shoots have hypoglycaemic activity.
S. pictus Hassk. is often cultivated as an ornamental, usually juvenile plants with silver spots on the leaves.
Properties
There is no information available on the phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of S. hederaceus . The seed oil of S. officinalis contains an hydroxy fatty acid, cyclopropenoid fatty acids and other fatty acids including palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid. It has potential as a replacement for cocoa butter. The fruits contain some glucosidic substances called scindapsins. Flavonoids such as chrysoeriol and quercetin have been isolated from the leaves of S. pictus .
Botany
A large climbing herb up to 20 m long; stem slender, up to 1 cm thick, with clasping roots. Leaves alternate, simple and entire, elliptical-lanceolate, more or less oblique, 10-16(-21) cm × 3-6(-8.5) cm, obtuse to rounded at base, acuminate at apex, pinnately veined, with marginal vein; petiole up to 9 cm long, winged to near the apex, with broad sheath at base, geniculate at apex; stipules absent. Inflorescence a solitary, cylindrical spadix (2.5-)4-7 cm long, enclosed by a fusiform to boat-shaped yellowish-green spathe 4.5-8 cm long. Flowers bisexual, without perianth; stamens 4; ovary superior, 1-celled, 4-6-angular, with well-developed stylar region. Fruit a red berry, stylar region caducous when mature, 1-seeded. Seed subreniform, compressed, testa thick, endosperm present.
Scindapsus comprises about 35 species and occurs in tropical Asia, north-eastern Australia (Queensland) and the islands of the western Pacific. It belongs to the tribe Monstereae , together with e.g. Amydrium , Epipremnum and Rhaphidophora . It is best characterized by the solitary ovule and entire leaves. There is no recent taxonomic account of the genus.
Ecology
S. hederaceus occurs in lowland and lower montane forests up to 1500 m altitude. It climbs on tree trunks, sometimes also on rocks, and is also found in secondary forest and thickets, and even on wayside trees.
Genetic resources
Although the exact area of distribution of S. hederaceus is still unclear, it seems to be widespread and at least locally common, also in secondary habitats. Consequently, it does not seem to be threatened by genetic erosion.
Prospects
Little is known about the botanical aspects and distribution of S. hederaceus , and nothing about its phytochemistry and pharmacological activity. Research seems worthwhile because of the extensive use of the related S. officinalis as a medicinal plant in India. A taxonomic revision of Scindapsus is badly needed.
Literature
62, 121, 181.
Other selected sources
190, 264, 331, 789.
Main genus page
Authors
Dodi Darmakusuma