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Family Rhamnaceae
Litiran
Gouania tiliaefolia Lam.

Scientific names Common names
Gouania tiliaefolia Lam. Litiran (Tag.)
Gouania retinaria DC. Liua-a (Bag.)
Gouania microcarpa Rolfe Mañgauhai (Bmo.)
Gouania domingensis Blanco Pahampak (Pamp.)
Gouania leptostachya DC. Ruñgo-ruñgo (Ilk.)
Gouania microcarpa DC. var. subglabra Elm. Slender spiked gouania (Engl.)

Botany
Litiran is an unarmed, climbing shrub. Leaves are alternate, somewhat hairy, ovate, 6 to 10 centimeters long, and 4 to 5 centimeters wide, with pointed tip and slightly heart-shaped base. Flowers are small, greenish or whitish, and borne on axillary or terminal panicles. Fruit is smooth, with narrow wings.

Distribution
- Found from northern Luzon to Mindanao, in thickets at low and medium altitudes.
- Also reported in India to the Mascarene Islands, Indo-China, and Malaya.

Constituents
- Leaves yield an alkaloid.
- From G. microcarpa, leaves yield a triterpenic acid, along with tetraicontanoic acid.

Parts used
Roots, leaves.

Uses

Folkloric
Leaves used for washing ulcers.
Bark is used as a shampoo, for destroying vermin.
Leaves used as a poultice for sores.
Others
- Alone or with other drugs, used to stupefy fishes in rivers.

Availability
Wild-crafted.

November 2011


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