Clerodendrum inerme

clerodendrum inerme  clerodendrum inerme  clerodendrum inerme  clerodendrum inerme  clerodendrum inerme

Location collected: Kapingamarangi Village
Date collected: November 28, 1998
Collected by: Brigeen Perman

Synonym: Clerodendron inerme

Chamorro: lodugao
Chuukese (lagoon): apuoch
Chuukese (other): etiu, pucherik
Kosraen: kwacwak
Mortlockese: ulo
Pohnpeian: ilau
Yapese: i'ruch

Kosrae

Shrue Kilafwasru: Kosrae steam bath (srawuk) of kwacwak is used by women during their monthly menstrual cycle. February 2004

Sadie Benjamin: We would grind them up by hitting them on a rock, then squeeze the water out of it, then rub it under the arm, the area where you sweat. 13 April 2010 at 4:55pm

Pohnpei

Camihla Santos (Kitti): Ilau is used in medicine, decoration, and the black arts. Used to treat fever, skin rash, flu, headache, infected umbilical cord, eye infections, evil spirit prevention. Can also be added to coconut oil and rubbed into skin. Details below. February 2004.

Pohnpei steam bath treatment: umwulap

Pingalap

Meriko Alik: Pingalapese use for fever and pink eye. February 2004.

  1. Genus species: Clerodendron inerme
  2. Family: Verbenaceae
  3. English name: Glory Bower genus
  4. Growth form: shrub
  5. Growth location: terrestrial
  6. Growth environment: cultivated garden
  7. Growth zone: Tropical
  8. Average height: Two to three meters.
  9. Stem: Woody, smooth
  10. Leaf arrangement: Simple, opposite
  11. Stipule: Absent
  12. Petioles: 0.5 to 1.0 cm long.
  13. Leaf blade: Ovate to elliptical shape, 5 to 10 cm long, acute to acuminate tip, green, smooth slightly shiny upper surface, pinnate venation, margin is entire.
  14. Inflorescence: Cyme or umbel usually comprised of three flowers joined at a common base point.
  15. Floral bracts: None.
  16. Flower: Rotationally symmetric, salverform, white--symmetry, sex, arrangement of male and female flowers if unisexual
  17. Calyx: Green, fused and reduced to a cup-like structure surrounding the ovary.
  18. Corolla: Fused white corolla with five lobes.
  19. Stamens: Four reddish purple, upwardly curved stamens
  20. Ovary: Ovary is inferior.
  21. Pistil: A single redish purple, upwardly curved style, style splits into a two forked stigma.
  22. Fruit: Not observed at collection time.  Reported to be green to brown obovoid fruit, 1 to 1.5 cm long which splits into four one-seeded nutlets at maturity (Dr. W. Arthur Whistler).
  23. Seed: Not observed
  24. Anything else: No strong floral odor.
  25. Cultural usage: Leaves used for fever and cough, leaves are also used in conjunction with other plants leaves for ghost diseases.

Known to be used in Samoa as a local medicine as well (Samoan Herbal Medicine, Whistler, Isle Botanica 1996).

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