Combretum indicum

Description:

It is a ligneous vine that can reach from 2.5 -8 m. The leaves are elliptical with an acuminate tip and a rounded base. They grow from 7-15 cm and their arrangement is opposite. The flowers are fragrant and tubular and their color varies from white to pink to red. The 30-35 mm long fruit is ellipsoidal and has five prominent wings. The fruit tastes like almonds when mature. It is usually dispersed by water.

Habitat:

Originally comes from Asia but is found in many other parts of the world either as a cultivated ornamental or run wild.

Notes:

The plant is mainly used for traditional medicine. Decoctions of the root, seed or fruit can be used as antihelmintic to expel parasitic worms or for alleviating diarrhea. Fruit decoction can also be used for gargling. The fruits are also used to combat nephritis. Leaves can be used to relieve pain caused by fever. The roots are used to treat rheumatism.