Plumbago auriculata Lam.

Ceraka (Plumbago auriculata) is a climbing shrub up to 2 meters tall of the Plumbaginaceae family, discovered in South Africa in the 18th century. In East Africa, its flowers and leaves are used as a natural textile dye, besides being popular as an ornamental hedge plant. Traditionally, ceraka is also believed to relieve headaches, digestive disorders, and joint pain.

Grows well in full sunlight, but also tolerant of shade. Able to live in various soil conditions, but prefers fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic, sandy soil. Ceraka is drought-tolerant, air temperature 16-30 °C, rainfall 1,000-2,500 mm/year.

• Roots taproot with many fibrous roots.
• Stem long, thin and climbing.
• Leaves glossy green in color and 5 cm long.
• Flowers 2-5 cm long and can be pale blue, blue or purple in color. Sepal and petals connected to each other, while the pistil is adnate.
• Fruit capsule shaped, long-beaked with a valve at the tip.
• Seeds one per fruit, dark brown-black, oblong and somewhat flat shape, 7 mm long.

Propagated generatively (by seed) and vegetatively (cuttings/grafting).

Naphthoquinone plumbagin (2-methyl juglone), epiisoshinanolone, steroid sitosterol and 3-O-glucosylsitosterol, plumbagic acid, palmitic acid, anthocyanins, heptadecanoic acid.

Treats headaches, digestive disorders, stomach acid, stops bleeding (antihemorrhagic), antibacterial, antifungal, maintains heart health, anticancer, lotion for oily faces, shrinks large pores, treats joint pain, wound remedy.

Encok alas (Java).