Rangoon creeper, Chinese honeysuckle
Combretum indicum

Family: Combretaceae

What it is like

A scrambling shrub or vine. The stem is strong and woody. It branches freely. It can climb to 20 m high. The plant is erect and shrub like when young. The twigs have soft brown hairs when young. The leaves are opposite and oblong. They have heart shaped bases. They are 8-18 cm long and 4-6 cm wide. They have long sharp tips and prominent veins. The flowers are at the ends of branches or in the axils of leaves, sometimes in large clusters. There are broad bracts near the flowers. The flowers have a smell and vary between white, pink and purple. The colour changes and darkens over 3 days. The fruit is narrow and long. It is dry and light and has 5 wings along the sides.

In some places the seeds are used to control worms. There are about 16-17 Quisqualis species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It does best in light well-drained soils. It prefers an open sunny position. It is damaged by drought and frost. It needs a temperature above 13°C. It is common amongst shrubs in hot dry valleys throughout the Philippines. It is often cultivated as an ornamental woody vine. It can grow in arid places. In XTBG Yunnan. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andamans, Angola, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America, China, Comoros, Congo DR, Congo R, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Gabon, Ghana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

The tender shoots can be eaten raw and cooked. The ripe seeds are eaten. They should probably only be eaten in small numbers. The ovary wall and seed coat needs to be removed. Caution: The seeds make some people ill.

It is cultivated as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, leaves, stems

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings. Plants spread by root suckers.

Its other names

Local names

Akar dani, Akar pontianak, Ara dani, Barmasi vel, Bidani, Ceguk, Cheguk, Dani, Dawe-hmaing-nwe, Espuelo de gallo, Ettaguttilativva, Ilengaramalligai, Indian Jessamine, Irangunmalli, Kachekluk, Kasunbal, Lalachameli, Leb-mue-nang, Lep mu nang, Lep-mue-naang, Mawk-nang-nang, Niog-nigan, Quisqual, Rangonimalle, Rangoon-ki-bel, Rangunachavel, Redani, Sak sehs, Selimpas, Su quan tu, Tagulo, Tangolon, Tangulo, Tartaraok, Tige-ganneru, Udani, Urdani, Wedani

Synonyms

Combretum indicum (L.) Jongkind; Kleinia quadricolor Crantz; Mekistus sinensis Lour. ex B. A. Gomes; Quisqualis ebracteata P. Beauv.; Quisqualis glabra Burm. f.; Quisqualis grandiflora Miq.; Quisqualis indica L.; Quisqualis longiflora C. Presl.; Quisqualis loureiroi G. Don; Quisqualis obovata Schumach. & Thonn.; Quisqualis pubescens Burm. f.; Quisqualis sinensis Lindl.; Quisqualis spinosa Blanco; Quisqualis villosa Roxb.;