Pergularia daemia
{{Short description|Species of vine}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Pergularia daemia var daemia, habitus, Springbokvlakte.jpg
|image_caption = In Limpopo, South Africa
|genus = Pergularia
|species = daemia
|synonyms =
- P. daemia (Forssk.) Blatt. & McCann
- P. extensa (Jacq.) N.E.Br.
- Asclepias daemia Forssk.
- Daemia extensa (Jacq.) R.Br. ex Schult.
}}
Pergularia daemia, the trellis-vine, is a hispid, perennial vine in the family Asclepiadaceae, with an extensive range in the Old World tropics and subtropics.{{cn|date=November 2019}} It has been used traditionally to treat a number of ailments.{{cn|date=November 2019}} It is sometimes called atufa.{{Cite journal |last1=Odugbemi |first1=Tolu O |last2=Akinsulire |first2=Odunayo R |last3=Aibinu |first3=Ibukun E |last4=Fabeku |first4=Peter O |date=2006-11-13 |title=Medicinal Plants Useful for Malaria Therapy in Okeigbo, Ondo State, Southwest Nigeria |journal=African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=191–198 |doi=10.4314/ajtcam.v4i2.31207 |issn=0189-6016 |pmc=2816451 |pmid=20162091}}
Range and habitat
It occurs from the Malay Peninsula to Burma, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan through Arabia and Egypt to central and southern Africa.{{cite web |title=Pergularia daemia (Forssk.) Chiov. |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=242424223 |work=Flora of Pakistan |publisher=efloras.org |accessdate=26 March 2013}} It is found along roadsides, in woodland or along riparian forest fringes.{{cite web|last=Hyde|first=M.|title=Pergularia daemia (Forssk.) Chiov. |url=http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=147070 |work=Flora of Zimbabwe |accessdate=15 March 2013|display-authors=etal}}
Description
The opposite{{cn|date=November 2019}} and broadly ovate to suborbicular leaves are very variable in size, with petioles of varying length. The leaves are almost glabrous above and velvety below.
In the northern hemisphere the flowers appear from mid to late winter, and these are carried on lateral cymes. The flower corolla forms a greenish-yellow or dull white tube. The fruit mature after some 13 to 14 months{{cn|date=November 2019}} when they release ovate seeds covered with velvety hairs.
Phytochemical properties
Terpenoids, flavonoids, sterols and cardenolides are among the chemicals that have been isolated from either the leaves, stems, shoots, roots, seeds or fruit.{{cn|date=November 2019}} Traditionally it has been used as an anthelmintic, laxative, antipyretic and expectorant, besides treatment of infantile diarrhoea, malarial intermittent fevers, toothaches and colds.{{cn|date=November 2019}} Studies have shown hepatoprotective, antifertility, anti-diabetic, analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties of substances in its aerial parts.{{cn|date=November 2019}}
Associated species
The larvae of the African monarch butterfly (Danaus chrysippus aegyptius) feed on this species.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{AfricanPlants|Pergularia daemia}}
- [http://www.kyffhauser.co.za/Plants1/Pergularia_daemia_subsp_garipensis/Index.htm Kyffhäuser.co.nz: Pergularia daemia subsp. garipensis]
- {{commons category-inline|Pergularia daemia|Pergularia daemia}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q13940293}}
Category:Flora of the Afrotropical realm
Category:Flora of the Indomalayan realm
Category:Flora of the Arabian Peninsula
Category:Flora of the Indian subcontinent
Category:Flora of the Andaman Islands
Category:Medicinal plants of Africa