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Summary
Other common names include False Black Pepper, Vidanga, Nainidang, and Vavding. Memory Improver or otherwise known as White-flowered Embelia (Embelia ribes) is a tropical bush or climbing shrub of usually 20-35 m long and 1-2 m tall. It has purple or red stalks. It is used in Ayurveda medicine. Dried seeds are powdered and used to kill tapeworms. Paste of the berries is used for skin conditions and headache. Leaves are combined with ginger and used as a mouthwash to treat ulcers and sore throats. Bark paste is used to treat pneumonia and other lung diseases. Root infusion is for coughs and diarrhoea. Young leaves and shoots, on the other hand, are edible and usually eaten raw. The fruit has a sour-sweet flavour. It can be eaten raw as well or made into refreshing drink. Young stems are chewed as a delicacy. Crushed fresh bark is used to repel leeches.
Physical Characteristics
Embelia ribes is an evergreen Climber growing to 15 m (49ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Embelia garciniifolia Wall. ex Miq. Embelia glandulifera Wight
Plant Habitats
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit Leaves Shoots Stem
Edible Uses: Condiment Drink
Edible portion: Leaves, Fruit, Spice. Young leaves and shoots - raw[ 301 ]. Often used as a side-dish with rice, when the leaves are usually mixed with other greens[ 301 ]. An acid flavour, the leaves can be used as a substitute for tamarind in soups and vegetable dishes[ 301 ]. Fruit - raw[ 301 ]. A sour-sweet flavour, they are eaten as a delicacy, mostly by children[ 301 , 310 ]. The dried fruit is used as an adulterant of black pepper[ 46 , 301 ]. A sweet, refreshing drink can be prepared from the leaves and the fruits[ 301 ]. The young stems are chewed as a delicacy[ 301 ].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Alterative Anthelmintic Antidiarrhoeal Antitussive Carminative Diuretic Laxative Mouthwash
Parasiticide Poultice Purgative Skin Stimulant
The dried berries (seeds) are alterative, anthelmintic, carminative and stimulant[ 304 ]. An aqueous extract of the berries has shown antifertility activity[ 304 ]. The powdered berries are widely used to kill tapeworms - castor oil is taken later in order to expel the dead worm[ 304 , 310 ]. A paste of the berries is used to treat skin problems such as ringworm[ 304 ]. The paste, mixed with oil, has been used as a poultice to treat headaches[ 304 ]. The pulp is purgative[ 304 ]. The fresh juice is cooling, diuretic and laxative[ 304 ]. The leaves, combined with ginger, have been used as a mouth wash to treat ulcers and sore throats[ 304 ]. A paste of the bark is applied to the chest to treat lung diseases such as pneumonia[ 304 ]. An infusion of the roots is given to treat coughs and diarrhoea[ 310 ]. A major component of the ayurvedic medicine Amrit kalash[ 301 ].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Prefers partial shade. Saplings can be planted next to tree species. As a woody climber needs support. Harvesting after two years. Cultivated in all soil types. Well-drained, light soils or sandy loam are best.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
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Plant Propagation
Plants can be grown from seeds. The ideal time for seed collection in the summer/monsoon - rainy season. Mature seeds of E. ribes are purple to black unlike red colored seeds of E. basaal. Propagation can be achieved through seed germination and
through stem cuttings. Pencil sized stem cuttings of 1.0-1.5 cm thickness bearing 3 nodes are planted 3 cm deep in
polybags and kept in shade.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Akar asam kubang, Akar kelimpar, Akar sulur kerang, Areuj kathembang, Aroi kachembang, Baberang, Babrung, Bai huan suan teng guo, Baibirang, Biranga, Birangi Kabuli, Butterfly pea, Chu'prek sangkong, Kakannie, Laoqiu, Madie, Memory improver, Songgui, Vaivarang, Vavading, Vayuvilanga, Vidanga, Vizhal, Vrishanasana, Wawrung, amogha, babading, baberang, babrang, babrug, babrung, baobarang, barang, baranj, baranj kabuli, bhabhiranga, bidanga, bidongo, biranga, biranj kabuli, false pepper, jantughna, karkannie, kirmighna, krmighna, krmihara, krmiripu, kera?am, k?mighna, k?mihara, k?miripu, lumping seladang, silgilla, tiruvittikanni, vaividang, vaividungalu, vara?ai, var?a?ai, vavading, vavaring, vavding, vayavadang, vayavidanga, vayuvidanga, vayuvidangalu, vayuvidangam, vayuvilanga, vayuvilangam, vella, vidang, vidanga, vishalam, vizalari, vizhalari, vi?a?ga (fruit)), vayuvi?a?kam, vayvi?a?kam (fruit).
Native Range
TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Fujian Sheng, Guangdong Sheng, Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu, Guizhou Sheng, Hainan Sheng, Xizang Zizhiqu, Yunnan Sheng) TROPICAL ASIA: Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
Burm.f.
Botanical References
1
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.
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