Plumbago zeylanica (wild leadwort) profile

Plumbago zeylanica, commonly called Ceylon leadwort, doctorbush or wild leadwort, belongs to the genus Plumbago zeylanica in the family Plumbago zeylanica. Plumbago zeylanica is an evergreen subshrub. Stem is erect, much branched, tendrilate. Leaves are ovate, apex acuminate, base cuneate. Racemes are spikelate with 25- to 78-flowered flowers. Inflorescence rachis glabrous, bedhead glandular. Calyx is tubular, glandular, corolla white or microbluish, corolla saltplate, lobes 5, apex mucronate. Anthers of Plumbago zeylanica are blue. 

Plumbago zeylanica picture

Morphological characteristics of Plumbago zeylanica

Plumbago zeylanica (wild leadwort) is an evergreen subshrub, ca. 1-3 m tall, erect, much branched;

Branches of Plumbago zeylanica are scattered or tendrilous at the upper end, often marked by calcareous granules, glandular except glabrous. Leaves are thin, usually ovulate, (3)5-8 (13) cm long, (1.8) 2.5-4(7) cm wide, apex acuminate, base proximally abruptly attenuate into obtuse or truncate then attenuate into stalk;

The Petiole base of Plumbago zeylanica is absent or with often semicircular auricles.

Spices usually contain (3) 25 to 70 flowers;

Pedicels of Plumbago zeylanica (wild leadwort) are 5 -- 15 mm long; Axis is (2) 3-8 (15) cm long (up to twice as long at fruition), with capitate or stipitate glandular glands on both peduncles; Bracts are 4 -- 6 (8) mm long, (1) 1.5 -- 2 (2.5) mm wide, narrowly ovate-triangular to lanceolate, apex acuminate or caudate; Bracteoles ca. are 2 mm long, ca. 0.5 mm wide, linear;

Calyx of Plumbago zeylanica is 10.5-11.5 (result to 13) mm long, calyx tube middle ca. 2 mm in diameter, apex with 5 triangular lobes, several full lengths with stipitate glands along the green part;

Corolla of Plumbago zeylanica is white or slightly bluish white, tube 1.8-2.2 cm long, center 1.2-1.5 mm in diameter, eaves 1.6-1.8 cm in diameter, lobes 7 mm long and 4 mm wide, obovate, apex mucronate; Stamens ca. As long as corolla tube, anthers ca. 2 mm, blue;

Ovary elliptic, 5-rowed, style glabrous. Capsule of Plumbago zeylanica is long elliptic, light yellow brown;

Seeds of Plumbago zeylanica (wild leadwort) are reddish-brown, ca. 7 mm long, ca. 1.5 mm wide, ca. 0.6 mm thick, apex acute.

Ecological habits of Plumbago Zeylanica

Plumbago zeylanica is more in the hot climate of the region, common in the damp ditch or village roadside open land, other tropical regions of the world have distribution and cultivation, wild or cultivation.

Plumbago zeylanica is a perennial herb with well-developed roots that can reach depths of 60 -- 80 cm, so it is most favorable for root growth on thick, loose sandy loam soil. The soil is too sticky, aeration and haikuo bad, often cause root rot, as a result of the whole plant wither, root germination force is strong, can be used to divide the root method of reproduction. The upper and middle sections of the strips germinate and root more quickly than the lower sections. Research shows that; The root of Plumbago zeylanica grows with the growth of the aboveground. In the later stage, as the temperature gradually drops, the growth of the aboveground gradually slows down, the nutrients transfer to the lower part, and the root grows more rapidly.

Plumbago zeylanica (wild leadwort) plant root, after 3 ~ 4 month stem leaf growth faster, fruit mature plants die, sprout forth buds and leaves, again after entering the second growth, maternal plant generally have 3 ~ 5 points, branch since spring, and gradually drew stems, stems less autumn, only a third of the spring, sunshine time long 7 ~ 8 month root growth.

The distribution of Plumbago Zeylanica

Plumbago zeylanica (wild leadwort) distributes China Taiwan, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou (S), Yunnan and Sichuan (Chongqing, Xichang); Plumbago zeylanica grows in a dirty, damp or semi-shaded place. South and Southeast Asian countries also have. The type specimens were collected from India. The name is based on Vietnamese materials, and the author indicates that the Chinese name of this species is Baihua Teng.

Plumbago zeylanica medicinal use  

Plumbago zeylanica can dispel wind, disperse stasis, detoxify and kill insects. Plumbago zeylanica can treat rheumatic joint pain, blood stasis amnesia, bruise injury, swelling poison, evil sore, scabies.