1061

12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2

Dianella ensifolia (L.) DC.

in Redouté, Liliac. 1: t. 1 (1802).

PHORMIACEAE

2n = 16, 32

Dracaena ensifolia L. (1767), Dianella nemorosa Lamk ex Schiller f. (1787), nom. inval., Dianella parviflora Ridley (1915).

Flax lily, umbrella dracaena (En). Brunei: akar yanyang (Sengkurong). Indonesia: jamaka (Sundanese), menuntil (Sumatra), labeh-labeh (Kalimantan). Malaysia: benjuang, sagatit, siak-siak jantan, akar siak (Peninsular). New Guinea: bururl (Mendi), moalengen (Aiome), tanglenu (Wigote). Philippines: ablaas (Bagobo), bariu-bariu (Panay Bisaya), hogangan (Ifugao). Thailand: ka kam laen (eastern), ma phraao paa (northern), lamphan (south-eastern). Vietnam: h[uw][ow]ng, b[af]i, l[uw][owx]i d[oof]ng, r[er] qu[aj]t.

Dianella ensifolia occurs from tropical Africa through Madagascar, India and Sri Lanka to the Himalayas, tropical Asia, southern China, Taiwan, Japan, Malesia and the Pacific Islands.

In Peninsular Malaysia and Vietnam, the dried fibrous roots of Dianella ensifolia are chewed as a vermifuge. In Peninsular Malaysia, a decoction is also drunk as a post-partum aid. The taste is sweetish. They are also used in poultices applied to the abdomen as a vermifuge. The ashes of the roots and leaves are applied as an ointment for boils, itch, jaundice, herpes sores and rheumatism. In New Caledonia and Brunei, leaves are applied to wounds. In Thailand, the whole plant is an ingredient in a treatment for chronic infections of the skin. In Laos, an infusion of the stem is recommended to treat fatigue. In China, the herb is considered poisonous, and cattle are said to die from it. As a medicine, it was formerly taken internally for dysentery, dysuria, leucorrhoea and blenorrhoea, but nowadays it is only applied externally in pounded form to scrofulous glands.
In Vietnam, China and Java, the pounded fresh rhizome, mixed with rice, is roasted and used for killing mice and rats. The aromatic rhizomes and roots are ingredients in cosmetics and perfume, and the leaves are boiled for fumigations (incense). Dianella ensifolia is also planted as an ornamental, especially in rockeries.

Dianella ensifolia is used on a local scale only.

At present, little information is available on the phytochemical composition of Dianella ensifolia. The aerial parts contain several benzoids, including 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-3-methyl acetophenone, 2,4-dihydroxy-1,3,6-trimethyl benzoic acid methyl ester and orselinic acid methyl ester. Besides these benzenoids, 5,7-dihydroxy-2,4,6-trimethyl chromone, 5,7-dihydroxy-2,8-dimethyl chromone isogenitol and musizin have been isolated. Very little is known about other Dianella species. However, the seeds of Dianella nigra Colenso, native to New Zealand, can be used to extract enzymes with lipogenase activity. In addition, anextract of the aerial parts of Dianella revoluta R.Br., from Tasmania and New South Wales, showed a strong antiviral activity against polio virusin an in vitro screening assay.

A rhizomatous herb, 0.6—1(—2) m tall, stems compressed, rigid, unbranched; rhizomes branching, white, 6—10 mm thick, scales 2—8 cm long, roots fibrous, long, profusely branched, with a particular smell, brown. Leaves rosulate at base, distichous on stem, narrowly elliptical to narrowly lanceolate, 30—60 cm x 2—3 cm, rigid, base keeled, compressed, sheathing, apex acute, margins rough, parallel-veined. Inflorescence a terminal loosely cymose panicle, 30—60 cm long, exceeding the leaves, peduncle 30—75 cm long, ribbed, flexible when young, bracts ovate-lanceolate, 5—10 mm long, base sheathing, bracteoles 2—5 mm long, deltoid. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, pedicel 6—12 mm long, jointed just beneath the flower, decurved or not; perianth segments free, in 2 groups of 3, subequal, narrowly ovate, 7—8 mm long, shortly apiculate, pale purplish-blue, sometimes white or yellowish, 5—7-veined, outer segments greenish beneath, spreading at anthesis; stamens 6, filaments 2 mm long, white, dilated at apex into an irregularly lobed structure, 1—2 mm long, bright yellow to orange, topped by the basifixed anther, oblong, 3 mm long, yellowish brown, opening by longitudinal slits; ovary superior, 3-locular, style filiform, 2—4 mm long, stigma minutely papillose. Fruit a fleshy berry, 9—15 mm in diameter, blue-purple and shiny when ripe, 3—4-seeded. Seed ovoid, 5 mm long, shortly beaked, smooth, black, shiny.

Dianella ensifolia can be found flowering throughout the year, but more often it flowers for several months only, during the rainy season. The flowers open in the afternoon and are without odour.

The Phormiaceae, formerly belonging to Liliaceae s.l., comprise 7 genera. Dianella consists of 20—25 species from the Old World tropics. Dianella ensifolia is very variable, and different authors have recognized several species, but the large number of intermediates makes this separation impracticable. Most Dianella spp. are grown in gardens as ornamentals.

Dianella ensifolia occurs in a wide range of habitats, from open grassland to primary forest, from sea-level up to 3000 m altitude.

Dianella ensifolia is propagated by seed or by division. In cooler climates, Dianella spp. can be kept during winter in glasshouses, at minimum temperatures of 5—7°C.

Dianella ensifolia grows in moderately fertile soils in sun or partial shade.

In Australia, the fungus Phyllosticta dianellicola causes elongate reddish-brown lesions on the leaves of Dianella revoluta and Dianella caerulea Sims. In southern China, the thrips Danothrips dianellae causes damage to Dianella ensifolia leaves.

The stem and rhizomes of Dianella ensifolia in Vietnam are harvested in June.

The stem and rhizomes of Dianella ensifolia are washed before drying in the sun.

Dianella ensifolia is planted widely as an ornamental and does not seem to be threatened by genetic erosion.

Since hardly any information is available on the phytochemistry and pharmacology of Dianella ensifolia and other Dianella species, they need to be analysed further in order to evaluate their possible potential.

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Nguyen Nghia Thin & Nguyen Trung Thanh

Thin, N.N. & Thanh, N.T., 2001. Dianella ensifolia (L.) DC.. In: van Valkenburg, J.L.C.H. and Bunyapraphatsara, N. (Editors): Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2. PROSEA Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia. Database record: prota4u.org/prosea