(Fabaceae-Mimosoideae) 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 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 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 steep slope, ascending to the base of limestone mountain that rises precipitously to a peak of ca. 1000 m asl. Greater part of 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

Additional information:  

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

Synonyms, images, taxonomic description: 

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

Useful references:


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