Eleutherine
bulbosa is an herbaceous, perennial flowering plant species in the iris
family (Iridaceae) , first described as a genus in 1843. The generic name derived from the Greek word eleuthera, meaning "free".
It is known as Bawang Dayak in Sarawak, Bawang Sabrang
( Indonesia ), Babawangan ( Sunda )
Synonyms
Bermudiana bulbosa,
B. congesta.
Cipura
plicata.
Eleutherine americana,
E.anomala, E. longifolia, E. plicata, E. plicata, E. subaphylla,
Ferraria
parviflora..
Galatea Americana,
G bulbosa, G plicata,
Ixia
americana.
Sisyrinchium
americanum, S. bulbosum, S. capitatum,
S. congestum, S. elatum, S. latifolium. S. palmifolium var. congestum, S.
plicatum, S.racemosum
Origin
& Distribution
The plant is originated from tropical America, but
now is widely cultivated South East Asia.
Description
E. bulbosa is a berbaceous plant capable to grow
up to 40cm in height.
The stem is erect or drooping, subterranean,
elongated ovoid and red in colour.
The leaves ae radial, lanceolate, glabrous,
measure 25-60cm x 1.2-5cm.
The flower are white or yellow in colour and open
in the evening for 2 hours.
Etnobotany
Eleutherine bulbosa is an important
element of the American Indian pharmacopeia.
In
SE Asia Eleutherine bulbosa is used
as carminative, together with galangal it can treat cold and nasal congestion
in children. In Dayak tribe, it is used
the bulb for increasing breast-milk production as well as treatment of diabetes,
breast cancer, stroke, hypertension and sexual disorder. In other areas it is found to treat coronary disorder,
and used as diuretic, emetic, purgative, prothrombin decreasing, antifertility,
anti-hipertension, wound-healing activity.
