Rauvolfia verticillata

Rauvolfia verticillata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Rauvolfia
Species: R. verticillata
Binomial name
Rauvolfia verticillata
(Lour.) Baill.
Synonyms[1]

Rauvolfia verticillata grows as a shrub up to 5 metres (20 ft) tall. The bark is yellowish black or brown. Inflorescences bear up to 35 or more flowers. The flowers feature a white or pinkish corolla. Fruits are whitish purple when ripe, ovoid, up to 1.4 cm (1 in) long. The plant is found in a variety of habitats, from sea-level to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) altitude. The specific epithet verticillata means "whorled" in Latin and refers to the plant's leaves.[2] Local medicinal uses in China include as a treatment for snakebite, malaria, typhus and hypertension.[3] R. verticillata is found in India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.[2][4]

References

  1. "Rauvolfia verticillata". The Plant List. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  2. 1 2 Middleton, David J. (September 2004). "Rauvolfia verticillata (Lour.) Baill." (PDF). In Soepadmo, E.; Saw, L. G.; Chung, R. C. K. Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak. (free online from the publisher, lesser resolution scan PDF versions). 5. Forest Research Institute Malaysia. pp. 49–50. ISBN 983-2181-59-3. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  3. "Rauvolfia verticillata". eFloras. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  4. "Rauvolfia verticillata". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
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