Mansoa alliacea (Lam.) A.H.Gentry
Vernacular name: Garlic Vine, Garlic Creeper
Species Name: Mansoa alliacea (Lam.) A.H.Gentry
Family: Bignoniaceae
Habit: Evergreen woody climber.
Stem: Vigorous twining vine; stems woody with age, producing tendrils for climbing.
Leaf: Opposite, bifoliolate; leaflets elliptic to ovate, 5–15 × 2–8 cm, entire, glabrous; terminal leaflet often modified into a tendril. Leaves emit a garlic-like odour when crushed.
Flowering: Mainly winter–spring, often sporadic throughout the year in tropical climates.
Flowers: Showy, borne in terminal clusters; corolla tubular-funnel shaped, 5-lobed, lavender to purple, fading paler with age; stamens 4, didynamous; ovary superior, bicarpellary.
Fruit: Long, narrow, flattened capsule, many-seeded; seeds winged.
Uses:
- Plant contain sulfur compounds and lapachones that are used to alleviate muscle aches, arthritis, rheumatism and chronic inflammatory pain.
- Decoction and tea are made from leaves and barks to treat cold, fever, flu and respirtory relief from varous issues.
- Plant also contains phenolics and flavonoids that enhance plant with antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal properties and help neutralizing free radicals.
- In Ayurveda, parts of plant is used as tonic, a deworming agent and in treatment of epilepsy and uterine disorders.
- It is an ornamentsl plant owing to it beautiful purple to lavender and white coloured flower clusters.
- Plants attracts a variery of pollinators and propagates easily from stem cutting.
- Plant acts as a natural mosquito and snake repellent.
