(Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae) Moullava digyna (Rottler) Gagnon & G.P.Lewis

Local name(s): ໜາມກະຈາຍ (nam ka chai)

Medicinal use(s): Treatment of cases of intestinal infection.

Part(s) used: stem or root

Field Characters: Huge liana with prominent and large prickles on the stem and spiny throughout, the large raised prickles pyramidal, terminated by a very sharp spine, prickled stem to 20 cm in diameter at the base. 

Locality: Luang Prabang province, Park Ou district, Medicinal Biodiversity Preserve above Somsanouk village. GPS reading: 20o 04.088’ N; 102o 16.438’ E.

Habitat: Subtropical monsoon forest on a steep slope, ascending to the base of limestone mountain that rises precipitously to a peak of ca. 1000 m asl. The greater part of the vegetation cover was leafless at the time of this fieldwork.

Altitude: 390 m asl. 

Collector(s): D.D. Soejarto, K. Sydara, M. Xayvue

Collection number(s): DDS 15429

Collection Date: February 10, 2020


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Local name(s): ໜາມກະຈາຍ (nam ka chai)

Medicinal use(s): Used to treat syphilis; also stomachache

Part(s) used: root, stem

Field Characters: Liana, spiny throughout, fruits light green, brown when dry.

Locality: Luang Prabang province, Park Ou district, Medicinal Biodiversity Preserve above Somsanouk village.

GPS reading: 20o 04.073’ N; 102o 16.553’ E.

Habitat: Subtropical monsoon forest on a steep slope, ascending to the base of limestone mountain that rises precipitously to a peak of ca. 1000 m asl. The greater part of the vegetation cover was leafless at the time of this fieldwork.

Altitude: 415 m asl 

Collector(s): D.D. Soejarto, K. Sydara, M. Xayvue

Collection number(s): DDS 15449

Collection Date: February 11, 2020

Additional information:  

Voucher specimen is in deposit at the Field Museum (F) Herbarium, Chicago, USA under accession no. 2329964; 2329999.

Synonyms, images, taxonomic description: 

Plants of the World onlineFlora of China Vol. 10 Page 42,45 as: Caesalpinia digynaGBIF | Global Biodiversity Information FacilityUseful Tropical Plants

Useful references:


Bruneau A, Paganucci de Queiroz L, Ringelberg JJ, et al. Advances in Legume Systematics 14. Classification of Caesalpinioideae. Part 2: Higher-level classification. Phytokeys 240:1-5552. https://phytokeys.pensoft.net/article/101716/


El-Nashar H, Eldahshan O, Singab AN. (2015). The Tribe Caesalpinieae (Fabaceae): An Updated Review on Pharmacological Aspects. Medicinal & Aromatic Plants 2015, 04. 10.4172/2167-0412.1000215. DOI:10.4172/2167-0412.1000215 

Ramamurthy S, Mjn C,  Nanjan MJ.. (2011). Phytochemical Investigations of Caesalpinia digyna. E-Journal of Chemistry 2011, volume 8, issue 4, pages 1843-1847. DOI:10.1155/2011/630375

Srinivasan R, Chandrasekar MJ, Nanjan MJ, Suresh B. Antioxidant activity of Caesalpinia digyna root. J Ethnopharmacol 2007, 113(2):284-91. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2007.06.006