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Christia vespertilionis
| Family Name: | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
| Synonyms: | Christia vespertilionis var. vespertilionis, Hedysarum vespertilionis, Lourea vespertilionis |
| Common Name: | Red Butterfly Wing, Mariposa |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
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| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Native distribution uncertain. Likely to be Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, China, and possibly Myanmar. |
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| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A herbaceous plant that can grow up to 60 – 120 cm tall. |
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| Foliage | Leaves are compound with 3 leaflets; and purplish red with stripes. Larger than the two lateral leaflets, the terminal leaflet is shaped like a boomerang. Leaves become bend downwards when night falls. |
| Flowers | Inflorescences are 5 – 15 cm long with hairy pedicels. Flowers are off-white and about 6 mm in diameter. Calyx is reticulate veined. Upper 2 lobes of calyx are connate and lower lobes are almost as long the tube. |
| Fruit | The legume is 4-or 5-jointed. Matured seeds are blackish brown, about 3 mm x 2mm. Seeds are glabrous and wholly enclosed by the calyx. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | When disturbed by a slight breeze, the butterfly-like leaves flutter, resembling butterflies, hence the common name ‘Red Butterfly Wing’. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: In folk medicine, the whole plant is used to treat tuberculosis and snake bites. The leaves are also applied directly onto the body for healing bone fractures. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
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| Landscape Uses | Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
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| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Purple |
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| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 515 |
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| Species ID | 1811 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
