Ichnocarpus frutescens | |
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Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Apocynaceae |
Genus: | Ichnocarpus |
Species: | I. frutescens
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Binomial name | |
Ichnocarpus frutescens | |
Synonyms [1] | |
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Ichnocarpus frutescens is a species of flowering plant in the dogbane family Apocynaceae, known by the English common name black creeper. [2] It is native to much of China, India, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia. [1] [3]
It is a woody shrub with lianas sprawling to 10 m (33 ft) in maximum length and 6 cm (2.4 in) in diameter. The bark produces a creamy white sap. The leaves are up to 11 cm (4.3 in) long by 4.5 cm (1.8 in) wide. The inflorescence is a head of several flowers. Each flower has a calyx of densely hairy sepals and a five lobed corolla just under a centimeter long. The fruit is a follicle which may be over 14 cm (5.5 in) long. The roots may be reddish or purple. The plant is sold in markets in some areas in India. [4]
The plant has a large number of traditional medicinal uses, including for rheumatism, asthma, cholera, and fever. [5] Some in vitro and rodent studies have suggested that extracts of the plant may inhibit tumors, [6] protect liver cells from damage in acetaminophen overdose, [7] and reduces complications of hyperlipidemia in diabetic rats. [8] There have been no published studies testing any of these effects in humans.
The fibrous bark is used to make rope. [3]
Ichnocarpus frutescens | |
---|---|
| |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Apocynaceae |
Genus: | Ichnocarpus |
Species: | I. frutescens
|
Binomial name | |
Ichnocarpus frutescens | |
Synonyms [1] | |
|
Ichnocarpus frutescens is a species of flowering plant in the dogbane family Apocynaceae, known by the English common name black creeper. [2] It is native to much of China, India, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia. [1] [3]
It is a woody shrub with lianas sprawling to 10 m (33 ft) in maximum length and 6 cm (2.4 in) in diameter. The bark produces a creamy white sap. The leaves are up to 11 cm (4.3 in) long by 4.5 cm (1.8 in) wide. The inflorescence is a head of several flowers. Each flower has a calyx of densely hairy sepals and a five lobed corolla just under a centimeter long. The fruit is a follicle which may be over 14 cm (5.5 in) long. The roots may be reddish or purple. The plant is sold in markets in some areas in India. [4]
The plant has a large number of traditional medicinal uses, including for rheumatism, asthma, cholera, and fever. [5] Some in vitro and rodent studies have suggested that extracts of the plant may inhibit tumors, [6] protect liver cells from damage in acetaminophen overdose, [7] and reduces complications of hyperlipidemia in diabetic rats. [8] There have been no published studies testing any of these effects in humans.
The fibrous bark is used to make rope. [3]