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Botany
Aroid climber that may grow
many meters high. Leaves are long-stalked. Leaf blades are green
and glossy with light veins, about 30 cm long 25 cm wide, tapering
towards the narrow tip. Young leaves have wavy margins; the incisions
becoming deeper as they mature, reaching half way to the midrib.
Flowers are ivory and cylindrical, about 10 cm long, enclosed
by tubular bracts (spathe) 10 to 15 cm long, 5 to 7 cm wide.
The berry fruits are about 3 mm long.
Distribution
Introduced and wildly cultivated.
Propagated by stem cuttings or planting of the lateral buds. Grows both
as soil or water plant.
Parts
utilized
Leaves
Uses
Folkloric
Muscular strains, back pains: Leaves are boiled in vinegar and applied
to involved areas overnight and repeated for two to three days.
Flatulence, abdominal pains: Oiled leaves are applied to abdominal epigastric
area.
Studies
• Cross Sensitivity Study:
Cross-sensitivity studies were done on alkylresorcinols from extracts of Philodendron scadens and Philodendron lacerum and alkylcatechols from an extract of Toxicodendron radicans (poison ivy). Patients sensitive to Philodendron species (or other resorcinol-containing plants) may not be necessarily be cross-sensitiv e to Toxicocdendron species and vice versa.
Availability
Wild-crafted or cultivated.
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