腰骨藤 yao gu teng

Apocynum frutescens Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 213. 1753; Echites frutescens Wallich ex Roxburgh; Gardenia volubilis Loureiro; Ichnocarpus ovatifolius A. de Candolle; I. volubilis (Loureiro) Merrill; Micrechites sinensis Markgraf.

Lianas to 10 m. Branchlets pubescent when young, soon glabrous. Petiole 0.5-1.5 cm; leaf blade 5-11 X 2.5-4.5 cm, pubescent or glabrous abaxially; lateral veins 5-7 pairs. Inflorescences many flowered, 3-8 cm, most flowers in pedunculate heads. Calyx densely pubescent. Corolla tube ca. 2.5 mm; lobes narrowly oblong, ca. 5 mm. Anthers elliptic; disc lobes free, linear, longer than ovary. Ovaries pubescent. Follicles cylindric, 8-15 cm X 4-5 mm, slightly torulose, pubescent. Seeds linear, coma ca. 2.5 cm. Fl. May-Aug, fr. Aug-Dec. 2n = 20.

Sparse woods, brushwoods; 200-900 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Australia]

A fine, strong fiber obtained from the inner bark is used in making ropes and sacks. The seeds are used for the treatment of rheumatism and the stem and leaves for acute urticaria.