Nervilia plicata (Andrews) Schltr

Selembar setahun (Nervilia plicata) is a short terrestrial orchid from the Orchidaceae family spread from India to Papua New Guinea and Northern Australia. Its tuber is traditionally used to treat urination problems, though overhunting for medicine has made this orchid endangered due to its slow propagation. Selembar setahun is also believed to help prevent diabetes and has aphrodisiac properties.

The selembar setahun orchid grows in tropical forests, in humid places rich in humus, fully shaded (95% canopy cover) and is found at elevations of 900-1,000 m asl.

• Tuber 1.5 x 2 cm, rounded, white.
• Stem together with the petiole is short, about 1 cm.
• Leaves dark greenish-brown with purple spots, 7 x 6 cm, sessile, heart-shaped, ovate, blunt, hairy, wavy margin.
• Flowers in a raceme consisting of 2-3 flowers, half-open, with 5 brownish-yellow petals with purplish-red veins. Sepals and petals subequal, linear-oblong, 2 cm, pointed tip; labellum concave, subrhombic, 2 cm long, hairless, near the middle indistinctly 3-lobed; lateral lobes upright, blunt apex; mid-lobe ovate, emarginate apex; column 10 mm, apical. Anther broad. Ovary 6 mm, elliptical, serrated.

Propagation generatively with seeds. One of the most effective and efficient methods for conserving these orchids is through in vitro culture propagation techniques, because it can produce larger quantities of propagation in a relatively shorter time. Seed germination uses media + 2,3,5-Triphenyl tetrazolium.

Alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, triterpenoids, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, saponins, phenolic acids, lignin, and steroids.

Prevents cancer, diabetes, shock, joint inflammation and accelerated aging, treats stomach pain, aphrodisiac, fever, urination problems.

No information found. Further research needed.