Handeuleum plants derived from Irian and Polynesia, can be found from the lowlands to the mountains with an altitude of 1,250 m above sea level. This herb is a small tree, with a height of 1.5 to 3m and has a woody stem.
Skin and leaves a slimy and smells unpleasant. This herb branchesobtuse angle, pole-shaped and segmented meeting. Leaves single, short-stemmed, located opposite crossed, ovate to lanceolate, pointed tip and base, but the bumpy, bone pinnate leaf with a length of 80-20 cm, 3-13 cm wide, upper surface shiny purple color.
This flowering herb plant compound, exit at the threshold of the stem, arranged in series in the form of bunches of 3-12 cm long, purplish red color. The fruit is fruit box, oval shaped, brownish purple color. Seeds are some times 2, round shape, the color white.
Handeuleum plants often found growing wild in the country side or grown as an ornamental and hedge plant. Grows well in open areas exposed to sunlight, with dry or humid climate.
There are three varieties, namely handeuleum purple leaved, greenleafy handeuleum, handeuleum leaved white pinto. Varieties commonly used as medicine is a purple leaved variety called Graptophyllum pictum (L.) Griff.var luridosanguineum Sims.
These plants bloom throughout the year, but rarely produce fruit. Propagation by stem cuttings. The leaves of this plant contain alkaloids that are not toxic, glycosides, steroid, saponins, chlorophyll and mucus. Stem handeuleum contain calcium oxalate, formik acid, and fat. Leaves efficacious as launching urine (diuretic), accelerate theripening ulcers, mild laxative and skin softener (emoliens). Whileinterest efficacious as smooth menstruation.
In the systematics (taxonomy), handeuleum plants are classified as follows:
Sinomin: Graptophyllum Hortense. Nees.
Classification
Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Spermatophyta
Class : Dicotyledonae
Order : Tubiflorae
Family : Acanthaceae
Genus : Graptophyllum
Species : Graptophyllum pictum
Common name : Handeuleum