Operculina turpethum

Simões, A. R., Silva, H. & Silveira, P., 2011, The Convolvulaceae of Timor with special reference to East Timor, Blumea 56 (1), pp. 49-72 : 66-67

2. Operculina turpethum (L.) Silva Manso — Map 16

Operculina turpethum (L.) Silva Manso (1836) 49;Ooststr.(in Ooststr.& Hoogland 1953) 456; Kalkman (1955) 216. Convolvulus turpethum L. (1753) 155. Ipomoea turpethum (L.) R.Br. (1810) 485; Decne. (1834) 390; Span. (1841)

338.

Distribution — Tropical East Africa, Mascarenes, Seychelles; South and Southeast Asia to tropical Australia and Polynesia; throughout Malesia (Van Ooststroom & Hoogland 1953). Introduced and naturalized in the West Indies (Staples & Austin 1981).

Habitat & Ecology — In thin forests, thickets, teak-forests, hedges, along fields, waysides, waste places, occasionally in sugar-plantations; restricted to regions with a medium or strong east monsoon; from sea level to c. 1 300 m (Van Ooststroom & Hoogland 1953). Not very common in Timor.

Uses — Extracts of O. turpethum are used for two main purposes: as a purgative to reduce or balance humours and to reduce fevers. Also, intestinal worms of various kinds are expelled by the laxative effects of the medicine made from this plant ( Austin 1982). The active principles of the medicine are apparently concentrated in the bark of the roots, of which two types might be produced: white roots that are mild, and black roots that give drastic, often poisonous effects ( Watt in Austin

Polymeria pusilla R.Br.

1982). Also, the stems have been reported to be used for tying in the Philippines (Van Ooststroom & Hoogland 1953).

Vernacular names — Lak-laku (Dawan); non-loli (Timor: unknown dialect); tali anduk (Tetum).

Figures

Map 16 Distribution of Operculina turpethum (L.) Silva Manso.