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2. Argyreia populi folia Choisy, Convolv. Orient. 32. 1834. (Fig. 141).
CONVOLVULACEAE
Ipomoea zeylanica Gaertn.—Convolvulus festivus Wall.—Rivea zeylanica var. Thw.
Sinh. Giritilla; Tarn. Sindu-kodi; Sans. Avegi, Saikari.
A stout, perennial, twining or trailing climber with nearly glabrous or slightly hairy stems
which yield a milky latex; leaves simple, alternate, 8—18 cm long, 7.5—12 cm broad, ovate,
cordate at base, acuminate, acute, glabrous on both sides except on the prominent veins beneath;
petioles 4.5—10 cm long, stout, thickened at base, adpressed—pubescent with two wart-like
glands at the summit of the petiole; flowers regular, bisexual, pale violet pink, sessile in capitulate
cymes with very short dichotomous branches; bracts large, leafy, unequal, lanceolate—oblong,
obtuse, slightly hairy, peduncles 12—20 cm long; sepals 5, free, imbricate, oval, obtuse, silky
pubescent, scarcely enlarged in the fruit; petals 5, fused into a funnel-shaped corolla, corollatube
2.5—3 cm long, limb 3.5 cm diameter, hairy outside; stamens 5, unequal, on corollatube,
not exserted, filaments hairy at base; ovary superior, 4-locular with a single ovule in each
loculus, style long, stigmas 2, globose; fruit 1.5cm across, globose, somewhat depressed, smooth,
fleshy and yellow in colour with persistent calyx segments.
Flowers from April to June.
Illustrations. Gaertner, Fruct. 2: Pi. 178, f. 1; Herb. Peradeniya, drawing.
Distribution. A very common, endemic species growing on fences or trailing on the
ground in the low-country to about 5000 feet altitude.
Ceylon. Thwaites CP. 1943; Urugala, Siyambalagastenne, Alston 483. Sept. 1926;
Negombo, F. W. de Silva, July 1930.
Uses. An astringent and antiseptic. The milky juice is applied to gums and a decoction
of the leaves is used as a gargle for treating weak and spongy gums. The root is pounded,
boiled with coconut milk and applied to swellings caused by dog bite. It is also used in cases
of rabid dog bites.
The young and tender shoots are eaten as a pot-herb.
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