Bleeding Heart Vine / Clerodendrum thomsoniae / Hussain Ebrahim
Bleeding Heart Vine
Clerodendrum thomsoniae
Hussain Ebrahim
Bleeding heart vine is a peculiar flower that has bracts and is monoecious. Native to tropical West Africa, Clerodendrum thomsoniae Balf is a climber. The vine is known for its red colored flowers amidst white bracts that hold both male and female flowers separately. There are several other species of Clerodendrum but this one has been close to my heart.
Bleeding Heart Vine as an Ornamental. (photo by the author)
Witnessing it for the first time has been de-stressing for me, though I recently came to know of its anti-stress properties. It's growth in my backyard has been an immense relief to my mental health as I watch the contrast between leaf, bract and inflorescence. Their indigenous medicinal properties are also documented across various citations.
The story of its name 'chance tree' is of peculiar nature and interest. Though I'm not certain of its reference to this particular species, the tree's genus name Clerodendrum is Greek and means chance tree. There are stories in Japan that the grub that feeds and grows on its bark is fed to children to calm them, and its extracts are known to reduce blood pressure and relieve stress.
Literature
Kar, Pallab, et al. "Micropropagation, genetic fidelity assessment and phytochemical studies of Clerodendrum thomsoniae Balf. f. with special reference to its anti-stress properties." Plant Biol 9 (2019): 9-15.
Shrivastava, Neeta, and Tejas Patel. "Clerodendrum and healthcare: an overview." Medicinal and aromatic plant science and biotechnology 1.1 (2007): 142-150.
About the author
Hussain Ebrahim is an independent researcher, educator of alternate schooling, and a recent PhD scholar at the University of TransDisciplinary Health Sciences and Technology (TDU - Yelahanka, B'lore, Karnataka). His recent interests in research include eco-centric learning amidst children from tribal families, documenting via oral histories and folklore - community conservation initiatives in reviving sustainable livelihoods that are dependent on the effective management of locally existing natural capital. He is also pursuing findings on the role that plant-derived medicine plays in the healthcare of Adivasis amidst forested landscapes, in the hope of preserving Indigenous customary practices.
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