Description

Frangipani vine or climbing frangipani, is a plant species in the genus Chonemorpha. It is a vigorous, generally evergreen, climbing shrub producing stems 30 metres or more long that can climb to the tops of the tallest trees in the forests of Southeast Asia. It has scented, white flowers and large shiny leaves. and it is native to China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand. It is very commonly used in Ayurveda (an Indian root medicine) and it is also cultivated mostly worldwide in frost free places.

Characteristics:

Frangipani Vine is a stunning climbing plant, flowering profusely from May - July. The flowers deceptively resemble the Frangipani. It is one of the powerful climbers of the Indian and Malayan forests, climbing to the tops of the tallest trees. Flowers are pure white with a yellow center, and have a delicious rich fragrance. Even without the flowers, the vine is eye-catching with large shiny leaves with prominent veins. It is found in dense mountain forests, often clinging to trees, in the Himalayas, from Kumaun to NE India, Andaman isles and SE Asia, and also Western Ghats, at altitudes of 400-1800 m. Flowering May-July.

Medicinal Uses:

The leaves, roots, bark-stem are used in Ayurvedic system of medicines. Leaves are used in the form of churna/extract or in combination with the other plant materials in their formulation. It is administered orally. In folk medicine, Murva is used in diseases like anaemia, fever, diabetes, stomach disorders, typhoid, urinary infections and cough. It is also used in the treatment of diarrhea, polyuria, boils, leprosy, eye diseases, vomiting and poisoning.