It is known by their botanical name ‘Combretum Indicum’ or ‘Quisqualis Indica Linn’ in the scientific epoch. Madhumalti plant (Rangoon Creeper) is a special kind of flowering vines that change in colour with age. Rangoon Creeper Botanical name, Combretum Indicum, is derived from the name of its genus, Combretum. The beautiful flower of Rangoon Creeper plant has a divine fragrance, and its color varies from white to pink to red. This color changing the property of these flowers is considered as a strategy to attract different pollinators. The leaves of Rangoon Creepers are elliptical with a rounded base with green to yellow-green color.
Madhumalti plants are woody vines and fast-growing plants that can reach from 2.5 metres up to the height of 8 metres. This creeper plant attaches itself to trees or any reliable sturdy support around it and climbs upwards through the canopy. They are also known as Chinese Honeysuckle, Akar Dani, Udani, Drunken Sailor, Irangan Malli, Bruma Creeper in different regions. These flowering vines are mainly found in the secondary forests of tropical areas such as India, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
Revolution of Rangoon Creepers
The Madhumalti Flowers of Rangoon Creepers are initially white and open at dusk. This white color attracts pollinators with long tongues such as hawk moths. The flowers change into pink color the next day and then turn red as it blossoms and reaches maturity. The vibrant red color of these flowers attracts day-flying insects such as bees and also, birds.
Uses of Madhumalti or Rangoon Creeper
- Rangoon Creeper is widely grown in homes as an ornamental plant. It is due to its beautiful flowers that show eye-catching colours and have an appealing aroma.
- The long and flexible stems of Rangoon Creeper use to make baskets, fish weirs, and fish traps.
- It serves as a source of quisqualic acid (used to destroy neurons in the brain or spinal cord selectively).
How to grow Rangoon Creeper as an ornamental?
Well, Rangoon Creeper or Madhumalti Plant can quickly be built in homes in a pot. It has a perfect fragrance that will give your home a charming aroma. You need to find sturdy support along which this vine can climb and grow, such as an arch, Arbor, or Pergola. As the vine does not produce seeds, stem cutting is the best way to propagate this plant. Things required for propagation by stem cuttings:
- Knife or scissors
- Trowel
- Soilless potting mix
- Planting pots or trays
- Rooting hormone
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Procedure of Rangoon Creeper Propagation
- Cutting stem from the creeper: Snap off a 2 to 3 inches long stem section of the vine. The section should be more complicated, harder and woodier, and also, that contains several leaf nodes. Avoid cutting the section with flower buds.
- Keeping the cutting moist: Keep the stem that has been cut in wet yet not soggy soil in the planting tray. The leaves can also be cut in case you need to save space and avoid excessive transpiration.
- Spot to keep the cutting: Place the tray containing the stem cutting where there is filtered light or in partial shade.
- Misting and Inspecting: Keep giving sprinkles of water to the stem cutting around 2 to 3 times in a day. Inspect the cutting every two weeks and make sure the leaves do not drop. If the leaves fall, it will not convert into the root, and you need to plant another stem. Take out any flower buds if developed on the stem. The stem will strengthen the roots within a month.
- Planting the Rangoon creeper stem in the pot: After the stem has developed roots, take it out and put it into the planting pot. Make sure the planting pot contains fresh potting soil. You can use a trowel to transfer the stem cutting and grow the Madhumalti plant in pot.
Grow Rangoon Creeper in Pot (Video):
Now, water the plant in the pot daily and see the beautiful Rangoon creeper climbing up and blossoming magnificently.
Taking Care of Rangoon Creeper
- Regular watering: As the plant grows in heat, it needs regular watering to bloom perfectly.
- Full sun: Outdoor area is a very comfortable space for this plant where direct sunlight fall on plant and also, a partial shade. The Madhumalti flowers blooming is much more spectacular where there is more sun.
- Fertilizers are rich in nitrogen: The plant does not require much use of fertilizers. Avoid putting fertilizers that are rich in nitrogen.
Benefits of Rangoon Creeper or Madhumalti
Apart from a beautiful flower with a heavenly aroma, Madhumalti Plant, or Rangoon Creeper is proven to be beneficial in various medical sectors. This creeper plant has many medicinal values in it and is used to treat many health problems. It’s every part serves some therapeutic benefits. Let us have a look at the Madhumalti Plant benefits:
Leaves
- Treats skin problems: Rangoon Creeper’s leaves use for skin problems such as boils and ulcers in the form of juice. It works effectively to settle boils and abscesses.
- Remedy to treat headaches: Also, use for headache and apply on the forehead, which can work efficiently in reducing headaches.
- Remedy to treat Dysuria or painful urination: You can also make a tea by boiling the leaves which help to get relief from pain while urinating.
Seeds
- Banishes Intestinal worms and Parasites: The dried seeds of Rangoon Creeper is also beneficial. This works to treat intestinal worms and parasites.
Fruits
- Treats Diarrhoea and Fever: The ripped and roasted fruits of Rangoon Creeper in case of diarrhoea and Fever.
- Treats inflammation of kidneys: The fruits of the creeper are also help us to reduce inflammation of kidneys or treat nephritis
This useful plant is also studied for treating cancer. It contains three ingredients that are considered authoritative against tumour activity. They suppress the growth of a specific tumour cell line.
Hence, Rangoon Creeper is filled with many properties that make it much more useful. But, the quisqualic acid in it, which can cause toxic side effects such as vomiting, nausea, hiccoughs, or unconsciousness. This species has not been developed for large scale production.
