Stemona tuberosa


Stemona tuberosa is a species of flowering plant in the family Stemonaceae. Hornets play an important role in seed dispersal by biting off the seed with its elaiosome and then carrying the seed away for about 100 m. There they chew off the elaiosome and abandon the seed which is likely to be taken by ants into their nest.

Distribution

It is native to Assam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, South-Central and Southeast China, Hainan, India, Laos, the Lesser Sunda Islands, the Maluku Islands, Myanmar, New Guinea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Traditional medicine

Stemona tuberosa is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine. It can be used as a treatment for Pediculus capitus and Phthirus pubis typically with low skin irritation.

Varieties

;accepted varieties
  1. Stemona tuberosa var. minor C.E.C.Fisch. - India
  2. Stemona tuberosa var. moluccana ined. - New Guinea, Maluku, Philippines, Lesser Sunda Islands
  3. Stemona tuberosa var. tuberosa - China, India, Bangladesh, Indochina, Maluku, Philippines, Lesser Sunda Islands