Strobilanthes cusia (PROSEA)
Introduction |
Strobilanthes cusia (Nees) Kuntze
- Protologue: Revis. gen. pl. 2: 499 (1891).
- Family: Acanthaceae
Synonyms
- Strobilanthes flaccidifolia Nees (1847),
- Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek (1944).
Vernacular names
- Assam indigo, room (En)
- Malaysia: tarom, tarom siam (Peninsular)
- Laos: hoomz baanz
- Thailand: khraam (general), san-yao (Karen, Mae Hong Son), hom (northern).
- Vietnam: chàm nhuộm, chàm mèo, thanh dại.
Distribution
Probably native to Indo-China (Laos, Vietnam) and Thailand. It is, or was, cultivated and sometimes naturalized in India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Indo-China, southern China, Taiwan and Peninsular Malaysia.
Uses
The twigs are used to prepare a dark blue dye for dyeing cloth. A green dye is prepared in combination with turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), and a purple dye in combination with safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.). S. cusia is planted as a dye plant in the mountains of northern Vietnam.
In Peninsular Malaysia pounded leaves are applied as a poultice to treat ague. In Vietnam the leaves, usually as an extract, are used internally to treat irregular menstruation, bleeding after abortion, fever, vomiting, tonsillitis and haemoptysis, and externally against eczema, impetigo, haemorrhagic gingivitis, and snake and insect bites. In China leaves and roots are additionally used in cases of eruptive epidemic diseases such as influenza, meningitis and erysipelas. In Japanese traditional medicine S. cusia is applied externally to tinea pedis.
Observations
- An erect shrub or perennial herb up to 1 m tall, branches 4-angled.
- Leaves of a pair subequal, elliptical-ovate, 8-20(-25) cm × 3-8 cm, acutely tapering into petiole at base, acuminate at apex, dentate.
- Inflorescence an elongate spike of more or less remote heads, with foliaceous bracts.
- Flowers with violet, rose or white corolla 3.5-4 cm long.
- Fruit fusiform, c. 25 mm long.
S. cusia grows under natural conditions in Vietnam and southern China on stream banks and valleys in forest, at altitudes of 500-1600 m.
The leaves contain 0.4-1.3% indican, which can be hydrolized and oxidized to indigo-blue. Leaves are astringent and diuretic, and have lithotriptic properties. Plants can be propagated by root cuttings, and they are pruned 2 or 3 times a year.
Selected sources
12, 14, 25, 29, 31, 40, 45. dyes
121, 217, 542, 546, 631, 671, 731, 974. medicinals
Main genus page
Authors
- Nguyen Kim Bich & Nguyen Tap