.jpg)
Back
Cyrtandra pendula Blume
| Family Name: | Gesneriaceae |
| Synonyms: | Cyrtandra blumeana, Cyrtandra rotundifolia |
| Common Name: | Asam Batu, Meroyan Panas |
Cyrtandra pendula is a creeping herb that has white hairy inflorescences and large green, broad leaves. Growing to about 15 cm tall, this native species is currently locally assessed as Critically Endangered in Singapore.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant, Creeper |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 15 cm |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Java, Malaya, Sumatra, Thailand |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A creeping or ascending herb with brown hairy stem. Plant grows up to 15 cm tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are usually pseudoalternately arranged (one in each pair is reduced to a leafy scale) with long hairy petioles (8 - 20 cm). Leaf blade is broadly ovate or elliptical, measuring 13 - 20 cm long and 7 - 12 cm across, with crenate, dentate or serrate margin, smooth on the upper surface and densely hairy (pubescent) on the veins of the below leaf surface. |
| Stems | Woody at the base, but fleshier and red-brown hairy (pubescent) when young and around the leaf axils. |
| Flowers | Flowers are arranged in clusters (inflorescence) called umbel with each inflorescence having up to 20 flowers. The inflorescence grows on the axillary, up to 18 cm tall. The long peduncle is red-brown pubescent and variable in length of up to 28 cm long, with 1.5cm long purplish warty bracts. Flower has 5 white petals and densely hairy on the outside, with purple spotting in corolla throat. There are 2 filaments of 7 - 12 mm long with long hairs and hairy style. |
| Fruit | Fruit is a berry, measuring 1.5 - 2 x 0.4 - 0.5 cm, very narrowly ovate and warty. |
| Habitat | Found mainly in lowland forest, often in marshy places and along streams, at 0-800 m. |
| Cultivation | Plant prefers high humidity and grown under semi-shade to fully shaded areas. |
| Etymology | The specific epithet pendula means drooping, hanging down, referring to the down-curved peduncles. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Leaves Food (Herb or Spice): The sourish leaves are used for flavouring. Medicinal: In Peninsular Malaysia, a decoction of the whole plant is sometimes used by women suffering from fever after childbirth (PROSEA) It is important to note that some therapeutic effects from traditional medicinal uses of plants are not currently supported or verified by scientific research. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Marsh / Bog |
|---|---|
| Thematic Landscaping | Marsh Garden |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green, Red |
| Young Flush Texture(s) | Smooth, Hairy / Hirsute |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Elliptical) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Crenate, Dentate, Serrate / Toothed |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Cordate |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Herbaceous, Woody |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Individual Flower Shape | Stellate / Star-shaped |
References
| References | G.L.C. Bramley, A. Weber & Q.C.B. Cronk (2004). The genus Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 60(3): 331-360. |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 33946 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 8362 |
| 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. |