2. Clematis triloba, Heyne

The medicinal plant Clematis triloba is a member of the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family. This page includes its habitat, botanical descption, medicinal uses (eg., Ayurveda), chemical constituents and history of use in modern and ancient India.

Index in Flora of British India (Hooker): 1. 3.

Sanskrit:—Laghu karni.

Vern:—Moravela, Morvel, Moriel, ranjai (Bomb.).

Habitat:—Mawal district mountains of the Deccan, and W. Concan.

Botanical description:—An extensive climber.

Leaves 1-2 in., silky small simple or one-ternate, entire or 1-3-toothed or lobed, elliptic-ovate or cordate, 3-nerved.

Panicle: many-flowered.

Lower bracts: leafy.

Flowers: 1½-2 in. diam., white.

Sepals: spreading from the base, 4-6, membranous, oblong, silky outside.

Filaments: glabrous, narrow-linear, connective of anthers not produced.

Petals: 0. Stamens many.

Carpels: many, with a pendulous ovule.

Fruit: a head of achenes, with a long feathery style.

Parts used:—The leaves.

Medicinal Properties and Uses:—The juice of the leaves, combined with that of the leaves of Holarrhena antidysenterica, is dropped into the eye for the relief of pain in staphyloma; about 2 drops being used. Vaidya Rugnatbji of Junagad says the whole plant is a purgative.

It is said to be used as a remedy in leprosy, blood diseases and fever by Sanskrit authors. (S. Arjun).