Medicinal Plants

Trevesia burckii Boerl.

Tapak Itik

Araliaceae

Location in the garden Greenhouse
Photo 1 of medicinal plant Trevesia burckii (Tapak Itik) Photo 2 of medicinal plant Trevesia burckii (Tapak Itik) Photo 3 of medicinal plant Trevesia burckii (Tapak Itik)

Summary

Tapak itik (Trevesia burckii) is a shrub or small tree up to 10 meters tall from the Araliaceae family that grows from the Thai Peninsula to Kalimantan. Its young inflorescence can be cooked as a vegetable. In the Malay Peninsula, tapak itik leaves are traditionally used as a poultice for small wounds, while a decoction of its root bark is drunk as an aphrodisiac tonic.

Agroecology

T. burckii is an understory plant in evergreen rainforest, from sea level up to an elevation of 900 m asl. Generally distributed growing in humid and shaded places.

Morphology

  • Stem upright to somewhat leaning branches, with sturdy scattered thorns.
  • Leaves alternate, crowded at branch tips, palmately lobed, but appearing compound, roughly circular in outline, up to 60 cm; lobes 7-9, lanceolate-oblong to obovate, up to 36 cm × 15 cm, base pointed to rounded, tip tapering, margin serrated on the upper part; petiole 20-50 cm long; ligulate stipules.
  • Flowers a terminal or lateral panicle inflorescence up to 60 cm, consisting of 6-12 secondary branches ending in 30-50 flowering umbels, and with a terminal umbel branch; bracts triangular, persistent. Flowers bisexual, regular, 7-10-merous; pedicel slender; calyx rim irregular; corolla consisting of fused petals falling as a calyptra; stamens with short filaments; disc flat-conical; ovary inferior, broadly obconical, 7-10-celled, styles fused, stigma slightly swollen.
  • Fruit berry-like, round, apically conical, up to 2 cm in diameter; pyrenes compressed.

Cultivation

Propagation generatively, namely with seeds. The fruit may be eaten by birds and bats, which can serve as seed dispersers.

Chemical Content

No information found. Further research needed.

Benefits

As a poultice to treat small wounds or general skin complaints, helps heal broken bones, treats rheumatism, back pain and fever, as a tonic with aphrodisiac properties.

Simplisia

  • Prepare tapak itik leaves as needed, wash clean with running water.
  • Dry under sunlight or with an oven at 40 °C until moisture content reaches 10%.
  • Store in a clean, airtight container.

Local Names

Kepayang ketam.

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 Small wounds from Tapak Itik

1. Small wounds

  • Prepare tapak itik leaves as needed and wash until clean.
  • Mash into a paste.
  • Apply the paste as a poultice on the small wound.
Traditional recipe Broken bones from Tapak Itik

2. Broken bones

  • Take tapak itik leaves as needed and wash until clean.
  • Mash into a paste.
  • Apply the paste as a poultice on the broken bone and wrap with gauze.

Reference Sources

  1. PROSEA. 2016. Trevesia burckii. https://uses.plantnet-project.org/en/Trevesia_burckii_(PROSEA). 05-10-2021. 05-10-2021.
  2. Royal Botanical Gardens. 2019. Plants of the World Online: Trevesia burckii Boerl. http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:92651-1. 05-10-2021.
  3. SETYOWATI FRANCISCA MURTI, WARDAH. 2007. Keanekaragaman Tumbuhan Obat Masyarakat Talang Mamak di Sekitar Taman Nasional Bukit Tigapuluh, Riau. BIODIVERSITAS, 8(3): 228-232. LIPI Bogor. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275516383_Diversity_of_medicinal_plant_by_Talang_Mamak_tribe_in_surrounding_of_Bukit_Tiga_Puluh_National_Park_Riau. 05-10-2021.