Lagerstroemia speciosa
| Lagerstroemia speciosa | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Flowers on a tree in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, where it is locally called Jarul. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Lythraceae |
| Genus: | Lagerstroemia |
| Species: | L. speciosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Lagerstroemia macrocarpa Wall.[1] |
|
Lagerstroemia speciosa (Giant Crape-myrtle, Queen's Crape-myrtle, Banabá Plant for Philippines, or Pride of India[2]) is a species of Lagerstroemia native to tropical southern Asia.
Contents |
[edit] Growth
It is a small to medium-sized tree growing to 20 m tall, with smooth, flaky bark. The leaves are deciduous, oval to elliptic, 8-15 cm long and 3-7 cm broad, with an acute apex. The flowers are produced in erect panicles 20-40 cm long, each flower with six white to purple petals 2-3.5 cm long.
[edit] Cultivation and uses
 |
This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2011) |
It is grown in South East Asia, India and the Philippines. It is also widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical areas.
Banaba has a long history of folkloric medical applications that include blood pressure control, urinary dysfunctions (helps ease urination), controls the cholesterol levels, treatment of diarrhea, facilitates bowel movement, and as analgesic.[3][unreliable source?] The primary active chemical ingredient of the extract is corosolic acid, and there are also numerous possible synergists including lager-stroemin, flosin B and reginin A.[citation needed] The leaves of the Banaba and other parts are used widely by the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan as a tea preparation. Banaba herb is one of the ten herbal plants approved by the Philippine Department of Health (DOH) through its "Traditional Health Program". [4][not in citation given]
[edit] Gallery
-
Fruit, leaves & Black Drongo in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
-
Flowers & leaves in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
-
Dried Fruits in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
-
Dried Fruits in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Lagerstroemia macrocarpa Wall. — The Plant List
- ^ " Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. pride of India." PLANTS Profile, United States Department of Agriculture / Natural Resources Conservation Service. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
[edit] References
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lagerstroemia speciosa |
- Flora of Pakistan: Lagerstroemia speciosa
- Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening 3: 10.
- P. Campagna. Farmaci vegetali. Minerva Medica ed. Torino 2008
- Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care
- Banaba Herbal Medicine
[edit] External links
 |
This Myrtales article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
