Many sources still refer to the plant by the synonymSemnostachya menglaensis, but this name is not avalidly published name as thatherbarium where thetype specimen is located was not specified.[7]
The genus nameStrobilanthes can be broken down intoστροβιλοϛ (strobilus) meaning 'pine cone',[12] andανϑοϛ (anthos) meaning 'flower'.[13] Thespecific epithettonkinensis refers to thetype locality ofTonkin (Northern Vietnam).[1] The epithetnivea derives from the latinniveum meaning 'snow white',[14] perhaps referring to the white flowers. The epithetmenglaensis refers toMengla County in China.[6]
InChinese it is called糯米香 (nuò mǐ xiāng "glutinous rice fragrance"),[7] because it smells and tastes like sticky rice.[9] InThai, it is calledเนียมหอม[15] (niamhom).[16] TheVietnamese names for the plant includechuỳ hoa bắc bộ andcơm nếp.[17][18]Chuỳ hoa refers to members ofStrobilanthes as a whole,[19] andBắc Bộ refers toNorthern Vietnam. Thesarmentosus variety is calledchuỳ hoa bắc bộ có lỏng.[17]Khmu language speakers in Laos call itpl̀tàap.[20]
The aroma evokes sticky rice, but has also been compared topandan.[16] Dried leaves ofS. tonkinensis are used to flavor black tea andpu'er tea to impart its fragrance and sticky rice flavor.[21] The use of the leaves in tea has a long tradition among theDai people.[22] It can also be used as a flavoring forjiuqu,cookies, ice cream, anddim sum.[23] The herb can also be mixed withslaked lime forbetel nut chewing or added to tobacco to make those strong flavors more palatable.[24]
Outside of food or drink, the leaves can be used to give laundry a fresh scent.[24]
S. tonkinensis was briefly in theStrobilanthessubgenusSympagis.[5] The subgenus was subsequently elevated to genus status,[5] before being determined to be a synonym ofStrobilanthes,[26] which now has no subgenera.
ThevarietyStrobilanthes tonkinensis var.sarmentosus is so named because it hassarmentose (long and slender) branches.[2]
The plant is herbaceous with a woody base and shrubby, roughly four-sided, pubescent branches.[1][7] When dry the plant is fragrant.[7]
The leaves are ~23×12 cm or a little smaller and egg-shaped, starting wide and narrowing quickly to theacuminateapex (tip). The margins are nearly entire, with irregular sinuous 'teeth'. The leafepidermal cells are hexagonal with straight cell walls.[27] The leafstomata arehypostomatic (on theabaxial side) and solelydiacytic.[27] The non-glandular leaftrichomes tend to be simple, composed of two cells, and cone-shaped.[27] The leafpetioles are 3–4 cm long.[1]Adaxially there are prominent striatedcystoliths[1][7] with a point on one end.[27]
S. tonkinensis has white flowers that are opposite, arising frompedunculate,tomentosespikelets in the upperaxils.[1] The flowers are in lax, terminalspikes similar toStrobilanthes collina.[28] Thebracts are 10×3 mm, slightlyspathulate, obtuse, and densely tomentose.[1]Bracteoles are 6×1 mm in size,lanceolate, obtuse, and densely tomentose.[1] Thecalyx is also obtuse and tomentose, and about 8.5×1.4 mm.[1] Thecorolla lobes are short and 6x6 mm with a subacute and sinuate apex.[1] The stamenfilaments are hairy and laterally bifurcated at the base with a pubescent line running down.[1]Anthers are 3.5 mm long.[1] The pollen grains are 85×60 μm.[1] Thestylus is 20 mm long and glabrous with a 3 mmstigma.[1]
Thecapsule is 15 mm long and 4 mm wide, with a compressed base and acute apex.[1] It's minutely glandular-pubescentand contains four glabrous seeds.[1] The glabrous seed is unusual amongStrobilanthes of East Asia.[29] The seeds have notrichomes on theirareoles, onlyannular thickenings.[29]
DriedS. tonkinensis leaves contains abundant minerals and trace elements, particularly high levels of calcium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus.[9] Additionally, it contains essential trace elements such as iron, copper, manganese, and zinc, which are necessary for human health.[9] The plant is rich in nutrients such as crude protein, crude fiber, and amino acids, with a high content ofessential amino acids that meets theFood and Agriculture Organization andWorld Health Organization's recommended ratio.[9]
^abBenoist, Raymond (1935). Gagnepain, François; Humbert, Henri; Lecomte, P. Henri (eds.).Flore Générale de l'Indo-Chine (in French). Vol. 4. Paris: Masson. p. 677.Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved22 June 2024.
^Craib, William Grant (1 May 1914)."Contributions to the Flora of Siam".Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, Royal Gardens, Kew.3: 131.Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved9 September 2023.
^"Strobilanthes tonkinensis Lindau".Vietnam Plant Data Center. BotanyVN – Botany Research and Development Group of Vietnam.Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved24 June 2024.
^Svantesson, Jan-Olof; Ràw (Damrong Tayanin), Kàm; Kristina, Lindell; Lundstrom, Håkan (2014).Dictionary of Kammu Yùan Language and Culture. NIAS Press. p. 442.ISBN9788776941161.OCLC837137417.pl̀tàap nuomixiang,Strobilanthes tonkinensis F
^PAN, Yu-Mei; LIU, Hong-Mao; XU, Zai-Fu (2006)."西双版纳傣族传统饮料植物利用的研究" [Traditional Beverage Plants Used by Dai Villagers in Xishuangbanna].Plant Diversity / Acta Botanica Yunnanica (in Chinese).28 (6): 664.Archived from the original on 23 June 2024. Retrieved23 June 2024.
^WU, Gang; MA, Shuai; ZHANG, Cuiling; ZHUANG, Huifa; ZHANG, Jiaming (25 July 2011)."糯米香种质资源遗传多样性的 RAPD 分析" [Analysis to Genetic Diversity inStrobilanthes tonkinensis by RAPD].Chinese Journal of Tropical Crops (in Chinese).32 (7):1320–1324.ISSN1000-2561.Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved22 June 2024.
^"Sympagis (Nees) Bremek".The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024.Archived from the original on 23 June 2024. Retrieved23 June 2024.
^Lamxay, V.; Lanorsavanh, S.; Chanthavong, K.; Souvannakhoummane, K.; Bounphanmy, S. (2021).ບັນຊີລາຍຊື່ພືດທີ່ມີທໍ່ລໍາລຽງຂອງ ສປປ ລາວ [A Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Lao PDR version 1.0](PDF) (in Lao). Faculty of Natural Science, National University of Laos.Archived(PDF) from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved24 June 2024.
Shein, Law (29 November 2011)."Strobilanthes tonkinensis Linda".Makino Botanical Garden. Retrieved24 June 2024. – herbarium specimen collected in Myanmar
.png)
