Socfindo Conservation

String of Nickels

Dischidia nummularia R.Br.

Apocynaceae

Location in our garden

String of Nickels 1String of Nickels 2String of Nickels 3

Overview

Spread in India, Sri Lanka, China (In the Southern provinces - South Yunnan, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan) Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia. This plant is widely used as an ornamental plant that is planted in hanging pots because it can grow lengthwise. In addition to that, this plants are also used as traditional medicine.

Vernacular Names

No found data on this. Need further research.

Agroecology

This plant grows in direct sunlight or partial shade, can withstand hot, sunny conditions, and high wind speeds, and is suitable for planting in roadside trees.

Morphology

  • Leaves - opposite, round, dull, greenish yellow, often thick and watery, 7-10 mm in diameter.
  • Flowers - white to yellowish white, about 1 mm long, contained in umbels consisting of 1-5 flowers. 
  • Fruits - are follicles that split on one side when ripe, pale green or yellow in color,  measure 2–4 by 0.4 cm.  The seeds contain fatty substances that provide food for the ants.

Cultivation

Propagated by seeds and stem cuttings.

Chemical Constituents

Myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol, quercetin-3-ogalactoside, quercetin-3-orhamnoside, quercetin-3-oglucoside, kaempferol galactoside, kaempferol-3-oglucoside, luteolin, and catechins.

Benefits

  • The leaves are used to treat gonorrhea and canker sores (Aphthae tropicae).
  • The sap is used to relieve pain from prickly catfish stings.  
  • Has activity as an antioxidant.

Simplisia

Not yet documented.

Plant Parts Used

String of Nickels part 1
String of Nickels part 2
String of Nickels part 3

Traditional Recipes

1. Meredakan nyeri akibat sengatan lele berduri

1. 1. Meredakan nyeri akibat sengatan lele berduri

  • Ambil getah tanaman daun pitis kecil secukupnya.
  • Oles getah pada kulit yang kena sengatan lele berduri.
  • Getah dapat meredakan rasa nyeri akibat sengatan lele berduri.
2. Sariawan

2. 2. Sariawan

  • Ambil daun segar tanaman daun pitis kecil secukupnya cuci hingga bersih.
  • Rebus hingga mendidih.
  • Biarkan dingin lalu saring dan gunakan sebagai obat kumur untuk meredakan sariawan.

Reference Sources

  1. Royal Botanic Gardens. Dischidia nummularia R.Br.. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:96997-1. 12-04-22.
  2. Flora Fauna Web. 2021. Dischidia nummularia R. Br.. https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/1/3/1385#:~:text=Medicinal%20(%20The%20leaves%20are%20used,the%20stings%20of%20spiny%20catfishes.). 12-04-22.