Trees & Plants

Asiatic snake wood

Raarohi, Raaruhi

Colubrina asiatica (L.) Brongn.

Fairly common in most islands The leaves are alterative and cooling and a decoction made from them is used to alleviate skin irritation and to treat a variety of skin diseases. These are also useful as a soap substitute since they contain saponins and produce lather when rubbed i

Details

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uses: The leaves are alterative and cooling and a decoction made from them is used to alleviate skin irritation and to treat a variety of skin diseases. These are also useful as a soap substitute since they contain saponins and produce lather when rubbed in water. A decoction of the fruit is used as an abortifacient and tonic. The fruits also contain saponins and are sometimes used as a fish poison. Th reat: Colubrina is reported as an invasive plant in Florida, United States. .P /OAF
family: Rhamnaceae
synonym: Ceanothus asiaticus L.
description: Shrubs; branches zigzag. × Leaves alternate, 3-8 2-4 cm, ovate, broadly to rounded or shallowly cordate at base, crenate at margin, acuminate at apex, chartaceous; as stipules ca. 1 mm long. Flowers in cymes, greenish yellow, fragrant, lower ones bisexual, in the upper sterile or staminate; peduncles 2-5 as mm long; pedicels 2-5 mm long. Calyx lobes 2-3 mm long, glabrous. Petals emarginate, a 1.5-2 mm long, yellow; claw slender. Th Stamens 1-1.5 mm long, anthers dorsifixed. Capsules globose, depressed at top, 8-10 mm; seeds 3, slightly emarginate at base, 4-5 mm, chocolate-brown.
native range: Tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, from Eastern Africa to India, Southeast Asia, tropical Australia and the Pacific Islands .P /OAF
distribution: Asia-Pacific region, Kenya, Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Mexico
english names: Asiatic snake wood
flowering fruiting: December – March
occurrence maldives: Fairly common in most islands