Chonemorpha fragrans (MOON) ALSTON

Chonemorpha fragrans (Moon) Alston

 C. macrophylla (Roxb.)G.Don                                                      
 APOCYNACEAE

 

Vernacular names:

 

Kannada Malayalam Sanskrit

 - Chandra hoovina balli

- Belutta kaka kodi, Appuppan thadi - Murva, Morala

 

Threat status:

Endangered (A 1 c) - KA

Vulnerable (A 1 c) - KL

Data Deficient - TN

 

Habit: Large woody climber

 

Habitat: Moist deciduous to evergreen forest

 

Altitude: 600 - 1200 m

 

Distribution: Global: India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia. National: Occurs in the Western Ghats in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the tropical Himalayan belt of Megalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Regional: In Karnataka and Kerala, occasional almost throughout the moist zones of higher altitudes. In Tamil Nadu, earlier reported only from Nilgiris.

 

Description: A large woody climber. Bark grey, thin, lenticellate, exuding white sticky thick latex. Branchlets densely tomentose. Leaves opposite, broadly egg-shaped-orbicular or elliptic, 15-25 x 12-20 cm, base deeply heart-shaped, apex shortly acuminate, margin entire, pubescent above and densely tomentose beneath; lateral nerves about 10 pairs, distinct, arching along the margins with prominent reticulations; leaf stalks 1.5-2.5 cm long, stout, tomentose. Flowers bisexual, arranged in long peduncled terminal cymes; corolla wheel-shaped, about 10 cm across, with about 5 cm long tube, white with yellow throat, turning light yellow, fragrant. Follicles usually in pairs, each about 30 x 2 cm, linear, woody, slightly 4-angled, hairless. Seeds many, ovoid, each 2 cm long, hairless, with about 4.5 cm long white-coloured hairs known as 'coma'.

 

Phenology: Flowering: January to April; Fruiting: May to December

 

. Medicinal uses: The parts and their uses are similar to Marsdenia tenacissima. Roots are bitter, laxative and used in skin diseases, leprosy, scabies, constipation, syphilis, indigestion, hyperacidity, cardiac debility, diabetes, jaundice, cough, bronchitis and intermittent fever. Also controls acute kapha and vata as well as cures vomiting and purifies blood.

 

Trade information: Regional. Reportedly the roots are traded in Kerala under the name Perum kurumba. The dried roots priced at Rs.2.40/Kg. (Kerala, 1993).

 

Mode of propagation: By seeds and stem cuttings

 

Special characters: All parts of this plant exude a sticky milky latex when bruised. Mature stems at lower regions exfoliate into prominent flakes called 'cork'. Flowers are large fragrant white while fruits are long and paired. Inside the basal portion of the calyx tube is a ring of glands.

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