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Other
scientific names
Duranta
plumieri Jacq.
Common
names
Duranta (Tag.)
Golden dew drop (Engl.)
Botany
Smooth shrub,
growing toi a height of 1-3 meters, with straggling and drooping
branches. Leaves are small, obovate-elliptic, 3-6 cm long, with
pointed or rounded tips and pointed base; the margins, entire
or slightly toothed. Racemes are axillary with terminal panicles,
spreading and slender, up to 12 cm long. Flowers are scentless,
borne on one side of the rachis, white or lilac-blue with two
violet stripes, about 1 cm long and 1 cm wide. Fruit is fleshy,
ovoid, orange-yellow and 7-8 mm long.
Distribution
Native of tropical
America. A common hedge and fence screen in Baguio.
Constituents
and characteristics
Fruit is slightly poisonous with alkaloid type reactions. Deaths
have been reported from ingestion.
Fruit contains a saponin.
The bark contains a glucosidal principal; the leaves yield a
saponin substance.
Parts used
Leaves and
fruits.
Uses
Folkloric
Fruit has been
used as febrifuge.
Flowers are believed to be stimulant.
Infusion of leaves and juice of fruit are diuretic.
Availability
Cultivated
for ornamental purposes.
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