Medicinal Plants

Schismatoglottis calyptrata (Roxb.) Zoll. & Moritzi

Slempetan

Araceae

Location in the garden Main
Photo 1 of medicinal plant Schismatoglottis calyptrata (Slempetan) Photo 2 of medicinal plant Schismatoglottis calyptrata (Slempetan) Photo 3 of medicinal plant Schismatoglottis calyptrata (Slempetan)

Summary

Slempetan (Schismatoglottis calyptrata) is a herb up to 60 cm tall from the Araceae family spread from Southern China to Papua New Guinea. In Bali, its tuber is used in the Manusia Yadnya ceremonial ritual, while in Java young leaves and stolons are eaten as a vegetable. Slempetan is traditionally used in China and West Java to treat lower back pain.

Agroecology

Slempetan is usually found growing in the understory of dense tropical forests, humid and wet places, rocky places (living attached to rocks), humus-rich soil within forests, along riverbanks, fields, at elevations of 300-1,400 m asl. This plant prefers moist, well-drained soil conditions, fertile loamy texture, requiring moderate to high water, and a position in full or partial shade. If exposed to direct and continuous sunlight, its leaves will turn brown from burning.

Morphology

  • Roots fibrous and uniformly yellowish-white.
  • Stem upright and short, has a round, non-woody stem shape, with purple to brownish color, has an elongated rhizome.
  • Leaves arranged in a rosette, leaf blade heart-shaped (cordate) to arrow-shaped (sagittate), sometimes variegated, green, smooth surface, smooth leaf margin, Y-shaped vein pattern, has a green sheath. Petiole round, green, smooth, sheathed at the bottom, about 50 cm long.
  • Flowers creamy or white, male and female flowers arranged in a stalked inflorescence. The inflorescence is enclosed in a boat-shaped floral spathe. The lower spathe is whitish-green, the upper spathe is cream to yellowish-green. The spadix narrows in the middle, white, about 3/4 the length of the spathe, the upper part will break off after anthesis is complete.
  • Fruit a berry, green and turning orange when ripe, fleshy, glossy surface.
  • Seeds oval, whitish, and numerous.

Cultivation

Propagation generatively through seeds, or vegetatively through stem cuttings and division of offshoots.

Chemical Content

Flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids.

Benefits

Treats lower back pain (lumbago), broken bones, joint pain (arthralgia), and wounds.

Local Names

Nyampon (Java), Solempat, Ciriwuh, Cariang (Sunda), Salimpur (Madura), Daun kasisi (Maluku), Biriang taba (West Sumatra), Lidah Jatuh.

Traditional Recipes

The following recipes reflect traditional knowledge passed down through generations, not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or advice. Consult a healthcare provider before use.

Traditional recipe Broken bones from Slempetan

1. Broken bones

  • Take fresh slempetan leaves as needed and wash until clean.
  • Mash into a paste.
  • Apply to the affected area and wrap with gauze.

Reference Sources

  1. Royal Botanic Gardens. 2021. Plants of the World Online: Schismatoglottis calyptrata (Roxb.) Zoll. & Moritzi. http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:88710-1. 28-09-2021.
  2. Flora Fauna Web. 2021. Schismatoglottis calyptrata (Roxb.) Zoll. & Moritzi in Moritzi. https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/5/7/5702. 28-09-2021.
  3. PROSEA. 2016. Schismatoglottis calyptrata (PROSEA). https://uses.plantnet-project.org/en/Schismatoglottis_calyptrata_(PROSEA).
  4. Kurniawan A., Asih N.P.S. 2012. Araceae di Pulau Bali. LIPI Press. 28-09-2021.
  5. Asih N.P.S., Kurniawan A. 2019. Studi Araceae Bali: Keragaman dan Potensinya (Bali Araceae Study : Diversity and Potential). Widya Biologi 10(2).
  6. LIPI. 2019. Reinwardtia: A Journal on Taxonomic Botany, Plant Sociology and Ecology.18(2): 51-133.
  7. Munawaroh E., Yuzammi, Solihah S.M., Suhendar. 2017. Koleksi Kebun Raya Liwa, Lampung: Tumbuhan Berpotensi sebagai Tanaman Hias. Jakarta: LIPI Press.
  8. Roja L. MedianistaandPanchito M. Labay. Dishes from the wild: THE NON-TRADITIONAL VEGETABLES OF MARINDUQUE. http://icfec.weebly.com/uploads/9/4/4/2/94425229/dishes_from_the_wild.pdf. 28-09-2021.