Back

Tinospora crispa (L.) Miers ex Hook. f. & Thomson

Family Name:	Menispermaceae
Synonyms:	Tinospora nudiflora, Tinospora rumphii, Menispermum crispum
Common Name:	Petawali, Makabuhai, Liane-quinine

Tinospora crispa, also known as Petawali is a climbing vine from tropical and subtropical regions, that has attractive heart-shaped leaves and warty stems. This plant is used in traditional medicines to treat many illnesses for its pharmacological activities.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Herb or Spice

Fragrant Plant

Ornamental Leaves

Climber, Vine and Liana

Shrub

Tinospora crispa, plant trained on a fence

Tinospora crispa, close-view of warty turbucles on stems

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Climber, Vine & Liana, Shrub
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Maximum Height	4 m to 10 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Southern China, Indochina, India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Monsoon Forest, Temperate Forest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal, Temperate

Local Conservation Status

Non-native (Spontaneous (Casual))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	A woody vine with attractive heart-shaped leaves, and fleshy stems with numerous warty protuberances known as tubercles.
Foliage	The leaves are large, heart-shaped measuring about 6–12 cm long and 7–12 cm wide. Petioles are glabrous and 5–15 cm long. Leaf blade is slightly fleshy, and smooth, with entire to wavy margin.
Stems	The younger stems are slightly fleshy and smooth, while the mature stems are thick and fleshy with blunt tubercles.

Flowers	Flowers are small, yellowish green.
Fruit	Fruit is 7-8 mm long.
Cultivation	This plant tolerates a wide range of soils, and grows especially well in secondary forests. Propagated by stem cuttings, which remain viable for around 1 year if stored in a sealed container. Popularly planted as a herbal plant.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits Food (Herb and Spice) Medicinal: Malays and Filipinos consider it a universal cure-all -- the Tagalog name 'Makabuhai' means 'to give life'. Parts of stems and powdered extracts commonly sold in traditional Chinese medical halls. Others: Stem decotions used to purify blood, as well as to treat stomachache, fever, worms, gonorrhoea and skin conditions like itch and ulcers. Stem and root extracts used to relieve malaria, high blood pressure, diabetes and bacterial abscesses. Powdered stem believed to stimulate appetite in horses and cattle, and used to fatten up livestock.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Foliage, Fragrant (Flowers) (Day), Ornamental Trunk, Ornamental Stems
Landscape Uses	Vertical Greenery / Green Wall
Thematic Landscaping	Economic Garden

SGMP Treatment
Plant & Rootzone Preference or Tolerance Remarks	Plant tolerates a wide range of soils.

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Fast

Rootzone Tolerance	Fertile Loamy Soils, Poor Infertile Soils
Maintenance Requirements	Moderate
Propagation Method	Stem Cutting
Propagation Method Remarks	Cuttings remain viable for around a year, if stored in sealed box.

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Deciduous
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Smooth, Glossy / Shiny, Raised / Sunken Veins

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Spiral
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire - Wavy / Undulate
Foliar Apex - Tip	Cuspidate
Foliar Base	Cordate
Typical Foliar Area	Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 )

Non - Foliar and Storage

Bark Colour(s)	Green
Stem Type & Modification	Woody
Root Type	Underground (Fibrous Root), Aboveground (Aerial Root)

Mature Bark Texture Remarks

Stems have numerous protuberances known as tubercles.

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Green
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Orange
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit

References

References	https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2016.00059/full

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	18614
Species ID	3346
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.

Species record last updated on: 15 February 2022.