Biology:Dregea volubilis

Short description: Species of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae

Dregea volubilis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Subfamily:	Asclepiadoideae
Genus:	Dregea
Species:	D. volubilis
Binomial name
Dregea volubilis

Dregea volubilis is a species of plant in the family Apocynaceae that is native to South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia.

Description

A stout tall climber, branches often pustular, with:

• Leaves: 3–6 inches long by 2–4 inches broad, rather coriaceous, base rounded or cordate ; nerves 4–6 pairs ; petiole 1–3 inches.
• Peduncles: 1–3 inches, rather slender ; umbels drooping, very many-flowered, subglobose; pedicals 1/2 inch, slender.
• Corolla: 1/2 inch diameter, cupular, lobes triangular.
• Stigma dome-shaped.
• Follicles: 3/4 inch long by 1–1 and half inch diameter, broadly lanceolate, turgid, glabrous.
• Seeds: 2 inch long, broadly ovate, pale, smooth and shining, border thick.

• 

  Climber

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  Bush

• 

  Inflorescence

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  Fruit

Regional names

"Kodippaalai" in Tamil, "Wattakakka" in Malayalam, "gwedauk" (ခွေးတောက်) in Myanmar (Burmese).

Geographical range

Dregea volubilis is found in South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia. In South Asia, it occurs in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. It is also found in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, south China, and Phillipines. The plant has also been recorded in Myanmar and Indonesia (Java).

In India, the plant is distributed from Northwest India to Bengal, Assam and the Deccan Peninsula, and southwards from the Konkan. In Sri Lanka, it occurs in the hotter parts of the island.

Medicinal Uses

Commonly Used in Siddha and Ayurveda for treatment of Hepatotoxicity, Diabetes mellitus.

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q3039310 entry