Christia vespertilionis (L.f.) Bakh.f.

Kupu-kupu merah (Christia vespertilionis) is a herb 60-120 cm tall from the Fabaceae family that originates from the East Indies, widely spread throughout Southeast Asia. Its unique leaf shape resembling a butterfly makes it a popular ornamental. In Malaysia, kupu-kupu merah is recognized as one of the best traditional cancer remedies and has been commercialized as tea.

The kupu-kupu merah plant can be found along roadsides, inhabiting dry and grassy areas as well as sandy soil. This species has drought tolerance and nitrogen-fixing ability. Grows well in well-drained loamy soil, and in partial shade zones, with high humidity, and moist media at temperatures from 21 °C.

• Roots taproot, branched, cylindrical, dark yellow colored, small lateral roots also present.
• Stem upright, green, cylindrical, slender, and hairy.
• Leaves compound, trifoliate, hairy, shaped resembling butterfly wings, smooth leaf margin, tip tapering, base heart-shaped (cordate), juvenile leaves have a purplish-red color while mature ones are dark green with pale green stripes with prominent veins. Large leaf blade consists of two lateral leaflets, terminal leaflet boomerang-shaped. Leaves curve downward when night falls. Petiole long, thin, grooved, hairy, greenish colored with a reddish tinge.
• Flowers pale white, small, about 6 mm in diameter. Calyx is reticulate-veined, 2 upper calyx lobes fused or connate and the lower lobe nearly the length of the tube.
• Fruit a pod, has 4 or 5 chambers.
• Seeds mature dark brown, hairless and entirely covered by the calyx.

Plant propagation is done generatively (seeds) as well as vegetatively (stem cuttings).

Phenol, sterol, sesquiterpenoid, alkaloid, polyphenol, fatty acid, flavonoid glycosides, flavonol (quercetin, kaempferol), triterpene, denbinobin, 5,7-dihydroxy-chromone, rhein, sanleng acid, wedelolactone, phytol, 10-undecenoic acid, 6-methylheptyl-2-propenoate, 2-(2-benzothiazolylthio)-1-(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)-ethanone, tetrahydro-2-methyl-thiophene, coumarin, tannin, quinine.

Treats tuberculosis, snake bites, bronchitis, colds, chills, muscle weakness, inflamed tonsils, improves blood circulation, topical treatment in healing broken bones and scabies. Has anticancer, antitumor, antiplasmodial, antiproliferative, antidiabetic and antioxidant activity.

No information found. Further research needed.