Biology:Plumbago zeylanica
| Plumbago zeylanica | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Plumbaginaceae |
| Genus: | Plumbago |
| Species: | P. zeylanica
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| Binomial name | |
| Plumbago zeylanica | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Plumbago scandens L. | |
Plumbago zeylanica, commonly known as Ceylon leadwort, doctorbush[2] or wild leadwort,[3] is a species of plumbago with a pantropical distribution. Carl Linnaeus described the paleotropical P. zeylanica and Neotropical P. scandens as separate species, but they are currently considered synonymous.
Description
Plumbago zeylanica is a herbaceous plant with glabrous stems that are climbing, prostrate, or erect. The leaves are petiolate or sessile and have ovate, lance-elliptic, or spatulate to oblanceolate blades that measure 5-9 × 2.5–4 cm in length. Bases are attenuate while apexes are acute, acuminate, or obtuse. Inflorescences are 3–15 cm in length and have glandular, viscid rachises. Bracts are lanceolate and 3-7 × 1–2 mm long. The heterostylous flowers have white corollas 17–33 mm in diameter and tubes 12.5–28 mm in length. Capsules are 7.5–8 mm long and contain are reddish brown to dark brown seeds.[1]
Distribution and habitat
Plumbago zeylanica grows throughout the tropical and sub-tropical climates of the world,[citation needed] including Australia and India. In Australia, it grows in the understory of monsoon forests and vine thickets from sea level to 900 m.[4] In Dhofar, Oman, this species is often found growing on Olea trunks.[5]
Ecology
Plumbago zeylanica is a food plant for the Cassius blue (Leptotes cassius), marine blue (L. marina), and zebra blue (L. plinius) during their larval stages.[4][6][7]
Traditional medicine
Early folk medicine used the crushed plant internally and externally as an abortifacient.[5] In Ayurveda, P. zeylanica is known as chitrak, meaning "the spotted one". It is used with other herbs to lessen its intense pungency.[8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Plumbago zeylanica Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 151. 1753.". Flora of North America. eFloras.org. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200017527. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
- ↑ {{citation | mode = cs1 | title = Plumbago zeylanica | work = Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) | url = | publisher = [[Organization:Agricultural Research ServAgricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) | access-date = 2011-02-23 }}
- ↑ "Plumbago zeylanica". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PLZE. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Plumbago zeylanica". Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. 2020. https://apps.lucidcentral.org/rainforest/text/entities/Plumbago_zeylanica.htm.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 G., Miller, Anthony (1988). Plants of Dhofar, the Southern Region of Oman: Traditional, Economic, and Medicinal Uses. Morris, Miranda., Stuart-Smith, Susanna., Oman. Office of the Adviser for Conservation of the Environment. Muscat: Office of the Adviser for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Sultanate of Oman. p. 232. ISBN 0715708082. OCLC 20798112.
- ↑ "Butterfly Larvae & Host Plants". Xerces Society. http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SE-Monarch-milkweed-butterfly-host-plant-brochure-final-2012.pdf. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
- ↑ "Featured Plants Spring 2016". Desert Survivors: 3. February 2016. http://www.desertsurvivors.org/ds_nl_spring2016colorsm.pdf.
- ↑ Pole, Sebastian. Ayurvedic Medicine: The Principles of Traditional Practice. Singing Dragon, 2013. p156.
External links
Wikidata ☰ Q5240308 entry
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