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Botany
Tagbak is a stout herbaceous plant growing
to a height of 2 to 4 meters, with stout rootstocks. Stems are
swollen at the base and leafy throughout. Leaves are leathery,
spreading or reflexed, oblong-ovate to lanceolate, 25 to 60 cm
long, 5 to 20 cm wide with a pointed tip. Petioles are short
and stout. Inflorerscence is about 30 cm long, the base of
the peduncle having oblong-lanceolate, chartaceous, 8 to 12 cm
long bracts. The branches are about 8, scattered, spreading,
stout, about 5 cm long, covered with persistent bracts, each
branch bearing several flowers, opening one at a time. Calyx
is 4 cm long; the corolla , pale straw-colored, about 7 cm long.
Capsule is ellipsoid, woody and 3 to 4 cm long, split into
3 valves and crowned by a persistent calyx.
Distribution
In thickets along streams, at low and medium altitudes.
Parts
utilized
Rhizomes.
Uses
Folkloric
Decoction of rhizomes used for hemoptysis.
Pounded leaves, mixed with a little salt rubbed on paralyzed extremities.
Juice from macerated young stems used for urticaria.
Studies
• Antimicrobial:
Studies on the antimicrobial properties of Zingiber purpureum Rosc.
and Kolowratia elegans Presl. (Family Zingiberaceae)
• Pacovatinins A-C::
Study isolated three new labdane diterpenoids, pacovatinins A-C from the seeds of the Brazilian plant Renealmia exaltata.
• Renealtins A and B::
Study isolated two new diarylheptanoids, renealtins A and B from the seeds of R exaltata.
Availability
Wild-crafted. |
