Morphological information

A small evergreen tree up to 1.5 m girths and 7.5 m high. Bark pinkish brown, somewhat rough, exfoliating in thin flakes. Blaze 5-13 mm white or pinkish. Young shoots clothed with white scales. Leaves 7.5-15 by 3.5-5 cm, crowded towards the ends of the branches, lanceolate or oblong, narrowed at both ends, glabrous and glossy green above, pale beneath from a film of small white scales, the midrib and nerves prominent beneath. Petiole stout, 1.3-2.5 cm long, clothed with white scales when young. Flowers 2.5-5 cm, long, deep red or pale pink crowded in large rounded corymbs. Pedicels 0.7- 5 mm long. Corolla campanulate. Capsule 2.5 cm by 7.5 mm cylindric, curved, mealy longitudinally ribbed.

Flowering                     :

Fruiting                        :

History                        :

Parts                           : flowers

Status                         : Vulnerable.

 

Phytochemistry

 Freidelin, epiflredelinol and N-(p-hydroxy-  -phenylethyl)- p-hydroxy-trans- dnnamamide isolated from roots (J.Pharm. Sci. 1971, 60, 1891); cannabidivarin and tetrahydrocannabivarin isolated J.Pharm.Sci.1972, 61,1476); in addition to 1-dehydro-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and cannabinol, their homologs were also present; above mentioned compounds with n- propyl instead of n-pentyl sode-chaon also identified (Biochern, Pharmocol. Aspects depend Rep. Maurihurana Res. Symp (Proc) 1972, 116; Chem Abstr.1973, 78,2007 s); decoction of cannabinol, cammabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol by TLC (Rev Quinn. Ind. 1972, 41, 15; Chem Abstr. 1972, 77, 123777 f); isolation and structure of a new cannabinoid cannabivanchromene (Experentia 1973, 29, 260); structure of a new base  -L (+)-isoleucne betaine-isolated from seeds, confirmed by synthesis (Phytochemistry 1973, 12, 2457); decoction of cannabiodiolic ad tetrahydrocannabinolic adds by preparative TLC (Ann. Farm.Fr.1973, 31, 181; Chem Abstr 1973, 79, 134329 d); longifbiene, hummulene epoxides I and II, caryophyllenol I and m-mentha-1, 8 (9)-dien-5-ol from essential oil (Tetrahedron Lett. 1973, 2841); zeatin and zeatin nucleoside from seeds (Phytochemistry 1974, 13, 619). Stigmast- 4-en- 3- one, campest- 4- en-3-on, stigmast-4, 22-dien-3-one, stigmast- 5-en-3 -ol- 7one, campest- 5- 22- dien- 3 -ol- 7-one from roots (Phytochemistry 1975, 14, 580); structure of a new alkaloid- cannabistavine isolated from roots (Tetrahedron Lett.1975, 2815; J.Pharm. Sci.1976, 65, 1084); vitexin, isovitexin, orientin and acyl derivative of apigenol isolated (Arch. Farm.1975, 25, 319; Chem Abstr. 1976, 85,90155 m); isolation and structure of a new cannabinoid  -(+) cannabitriol (Experientia 1976, 32, 283; Lloydia 1977, 40, 275);N- acetylglucosamine and N-acetylgalactosamine isolated from leaves and stems (Phytochernistry 1976, 15,325); isolation and crystal structure of cannabispiran (Chem Commune. 1976, 580); ten flavonoid glycosides isolated from leaves; one of these was an isovitexin and orientin; orientin also obtained (Plant. Med. Phytother. 1976, 10,144; Chem Abstr.1977, 86, 27653 c); 9,10-dihydoxy- 6a (10a) dehydro-tetrahydrocannabinol (cannabitriol) and (-) 10-ethoxy9-hydroxy-6a (10a)- dehydro- tetrahydrocannbinoI (I) isolated and characterised (Lloydia 1977,40,275; Experientia 1978,34,1127); n-alkanes; ranging from C9 to C39, 2-methyl alkanes, 3-methyl alkanes and dimethyl alkanes; present in essential oil (Phytochemistry 1977, 16, 719); friedelin, epifriedelinol, , -sitosterol, carvone, dihydrocarvone and some unidentified bases isolated from roots (Plants Med. 1977, 32, 378).

A new cannabinoid-cannabinodiol-isolate and its structure confirmed by synthesis (Phytochemistry 1977, 16, 595); isolation and structure of 1-dehydro- 3-, 4-cis tetrahydrocannbinol (II) (Phytochemistry 1977, 16, 1088); a new non-cannabinoid phenol- -,annabidivarimic add, cannabic-hromevarinic add and cannabigerovarinic acid-isolated from their plant (Chem. Pharm. Bull. 1977, 25,2306); improved method for synthesis of dt-cannabichromene (J.Heterocycl Chem. 1978, 15, 699); structure of hydroxy and methoxy substituted 1,2-diphenylethanes ( III,IV,V) isolated from Mexican marihuana (Rec. Trav. Chem.Pays-Bas Belg.1978,97,221; Chem Abstr.1978, 89,160092x); 2"~O-glucopyranosylvitexin and 2"~ -O- glucopyranosylorientin isolation and structures of three new cannbinoids-C3-mnnabichromanone,C3-cannabielsoin and C3-cannabielsoic acid ; C3-homolog and C3-homologous acid also isolated (J. Chromatogs.1978,154,13); structure of two new spirocompounds-cannabispirol and acetylcannabispirol-isolated along with cannabispirone and cannabispirenone from Japanese cannabis (Chem. Pharm. Bull. 1978,26,364 1); isolation and structure of a new cannabinoid-(+)8,9-dihydroxy-9a(10a)-dehydro-tetrahydrocannabinoI (VI)(Experientia 1978,34,1127); structure of a new alkaloid-anhydrocannabisativine-isolated from leaves and roots of Mexican plant (J.Pharm.Sd. 1978, 67, 124); structure elucidation of canniorene and two dihydrostilbenes, (VII and VIII) isolated from leaves of Thailand plant (Tetrahedron Lett. 1978,4711); isolation and structure of a new cannabinoid-cannabi-mumaronome (Tetrahedron 1978, 34, 3207).

Agrocultivation

The propagation is done through seeds sown in March-April in boxes or pots filled with pure sand or powdered bricks, previously soaked with water. The seedlings may be pricked out in the second season and transferred to the nursery until they attain a size suitable for transplanting. Since it is difficult to raise the seedlings, naturally arisen seedlings of a suitable size are transferred to the nursery and kept there until large enough to plant out. Cuttings are also used for propagation.

 

Traditional

A sub-acidic jelly or preserve is made from the petals are used in diarrhoea and dysentery. An alcoholic extract of the flowers lowers blood pressure in dogs and albino rats. The honey of the wild bee is said to be poisonous at the flowering time of this species because if the flowers are consumed in excess they cause intoxication.

 

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