''Telosma cordata'' is a species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

, native to

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

() and

Indo-China Mainland Southeast Asia, also known as the Indochinese Peninsula or Indochina, is the continental portion of Southeast Asia. It lies east of the Indian subcontinent and south of Mainland China and is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west an ...

, in the family

Apocynaceae Apocynaceae (from ''Apocynum'', Greek for "dog-away") is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, stem succulents, and vines, commonly known as the dogbane family, because some taxa were used as dog poison Members of the ...

(tribe Marsdenieae). It is cultivated elsewhere and may occur wild as an

introduced species An introduced species, alien species, exotic species, adventive species, immigrant species, foreign species, non-indigenous species, or non-native species is a species living outside its native distributional range, but which has arrived there ...

Common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...

s include Chinese violet, cowslip creeper, Pakalana vine, Tonkin jasmine and Tonkinese creeper. The plant bears clusters of golden yellow blooms along the vining stems during summer months. Individual blooms emerge successively over a period of weeks emitting a rich, heavy fragrance during the day and night.

Characteristics

''Telosma cordata'' is classified as a creeper that can climb as far as 2–5 meters. The vine is small, round and very tough; it is considered poisonous for pigs. As the tree is older, the vine will change from green to brown. The top is covered with dense white bush that can cover other trees completely. The plant can be reproduced by cutting or seeding and grows in airy soil in bright sunlight. It can be found in evergreen, mixed deciduous forests, grove woods and dry forests all over

Leaf

''Telosma cordata'' has single heart-shaped leaves growing in pairs. The leaf is about 4–7.5 cm wide and about 6–11 cm long with smooth underside. The leaf is very thin, with veins that can be clearly seen. The stem is about 1.2–2 cm long.

Flower

The flowers bloom as a bouquet consisting of about 10–20 flowers. The greenish-yellow flower has a strong fragrance especially in the evening. It has a diameter of about 1.5 cm with 5 petals and 5 stamens which are connected to each other and to the pistils. The blooming season is usually March–May, although sometimes flowers can be found in July–October. Starr 060721-8424 Telosma cordata

Fruit

The fruit is smooth, green and round with pointed ends. The interior contains many flat seeds with white fluff attached to the ends. The produce season is around June–August.

Uses

The top, fruit and flowers can all be consumed as vegetables. The top is believed to be the most nutritious part. The flower is used in desserts and for ornamental purposes in bouquets and wreaths. The plant's vines are tough and can be used as ropes. The wood can be used for construction in some cases. The plant has also been used for traditional medicinal purposes, as an

antipyretic An antipyretic (, from ''anti-'' 'against' and ' 'feverish') is a substance that reduces fever. Antipyretics cause the hypothalamus to override a prostaglandin-induced increase in temperature. The body then works to lower the temperature, which r ...

, an antidote for poison, a tranquilizer, and for the relief of backbone pain.

Nutritional value per 100 g

References

External links

Glass-noodles with Shrimps and Pakalana Flowers
* ขจร สรรพคุณและประโยชน์ของดอกขจร 24 ข้อ ! (ผักสลิด,ดอกสลิด). 2016. ขจร สรรพคุณและ ประโยชน์ของดอกขจร 24 ข้อ ! (ผักสลิด,ดอกสลิด). NLINEAvailable at: http://frynn.com/ขจร/. ccessed 2 February 2016 {{Taxonbar, from=Q7697835 Asclepiadoideae Thai cuisine Vietnamese cuisine Inflorescence vegetables Flora of China Plants described in 1768 Taxa named by Nicolaas Laurens Burman