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Rangoon Creeper
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Rangoon Creeper
ative elliptic Photo: Tabish
Common name: Rangoon Creeper, Burma creeper • Assamese: মাধৱী লতা Madhavi lata • Hindi: मधु मालती Madhu Malati • Kannada: ಸಂಧ್ಯಾರಾಣಿ Sandhya rani, ರಂಗೂನ್ ಕೆಂಪುಹೂ Rangoon kempu hoo, ರಂಗೂನ್ ಕೆಂಪುಮಲ್ಲೆ Rangoon kempu malle • Manipuri: ꯄꯥꯔꯤꯖꯥꯠ Parijat • Marathi: मधुमालती Madhumalati • Tamil: Irangun malli • Bengali: মধুমংজরী Madhumanjari • Telugu: రాధామనోహరం
Botanical name: Combretum indicum    Family: Combretaceae (Rangoon creeper family)
Synonyms: Quisqualis indica, Quisqualis grandiflora, Quisqualis sinensis

Rangoon creeper is the most common vine in Delhi. It is not uncommon to see the creeper rooted only in a small hole in cemented groud, but the vine thriving and climbing high. Clusters of fragrant white pendulous trumpets open white then change to pink, red and finally a deep maroon. A vigorous twining climber blooming profusely throughout summer that can reach as much as 70 feet in tropical climates. This plant needs support for growing and is very useful in covering fences, supports, and walls. The fragrant white flowers grow in pendent racemes, quickly changing to pink then red, making a spectacular show. The growth rate is generally fast, and the plant does not make heavy fertilizer demands. Rangoon creeper does like medium to bright light. Under good conditions it will be necessary to prune the plant to keep it in bounds. Rangoon creeper is found in thickets or secondary forests of the Philippines, India and Malaysia. It has since been cultivated widely in the gardens as an easy to grow plant.
Medicinal uses: Decoctions of the root, seed or fruit can be used as antihelmintic to expel parasitic worms or for alleviating diarrhea. Fruit decoction can also be used for gargling. The fruits are also used to combat nephritis. Leaves can be used to relieve pain caused by fever. The roots are used to treat rheumatism. Flowers are used to relieve headache.

Identification credit: Radhika Vathsan Photographed in Delhi & Maharashtra.

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