Doctorbush (Plumbago zeylanica, Sp. Pl.: 151 (1753))

Family: Plumbaginaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 151 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Plumbago

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: Tropics & Subtropics

Description

Doctorbush, known scientifically as Plumbago zeylanica, is a fascinating plant species that belongs to the Plumbaginaceae family. The plant was first comprehensively described in the seminal botanical work “Species Plantarum” by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. This prolific author laid the foundation for modern plant taxonomy, and his classification remains pivotal in botany today.

Native to tropical and subtropical regions, Doctorbush thrives in warm climates around the globe. The plant is often found in naturalized settings as well as cultivated gardens, valued for its ornamental beauty and medicinal properties. Its adaptability to various environmental conditions makes it a resilient species.

Doctorbush produces striking clusters of white, tube-shaped flowers that contrast beautifully with its lush green foliage. The leaves are simple, with a smooth texture and an elongated shape, adding to the plant’s aesthetic appeal. These characteristics have made Plumbago zeylanica a popular choice among gardeners and landscape designers looking to add a touch of elegance to their outdoor spaces.

Beyond its visual appeal, Doctorbush holds significant medicinal value. Traditionally, various parts of the plant have been used in herbal medicine to treat a range of ailments. Extracts from its roots and leaves have been studied for their potential anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, contributing to its esteemed status in traditional medicine systems, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions.

In summary, Doctorbush is not just a visually striking plant but also a versatile and valuable one. Its historical significance, environmental adaptability, and medicinal applications underscore its importance in both botanical science and practical horticulture.

Common Names

Eng: ceylon leadwort, doctorbush, plumbago, wild leadwort, wild plumbago, blister bush, bright eyes, eyebright, toothwort
Swe: vit blyblomma
En: Doctorbush, Plumbago, Ceylon leadwort, Wild plumbago, Wild leadwort, Blister Bush, Bright Eyes, Eyebright, Toothwort, Arolla Pine, Lead wort, Summer Snow, The Ceylon Leadwort, White Leadwort, White Plumbago, Wild white plumbago, Leadwort
Zh: Bai hua dan
Fr: Plombago de Ceylan, Pervenche à fleurs blanches
Sv: Vit blyblomma

Synonyms

• Plumbago littoralis (Mure)
• Plumbago toxicaria (Bertol.)
• Thela alba (Lour.)
• Plumbago floridana (Raf.)
• Plumbago maximowiczii (Gand.)
• Plumbago scandens var. erecta (Chodat & Hassl.)
• Plumbago scandens var. normalis (Kuntze)
• Plumbago viscosa (Blanco)
• Plumbagidium scandens ((L.) Spach)
• Plumbago scandens (L.)
• Findlaya alba (Bowdich)
• Plumbago americana (Weigel)
• Molubda scandens ((L.) Raf.)
• Plumbago zeylanica var. glaucescens (Boiss.)
• Plumbago scandens var. densiflora (Kuntze)
• Plumbago sarmentosa (Lam.)
• Plumbago mexicana (Kunth)
• Plumbago occidentalis (Sweet)
• Plumbago zeylanica var. oxypetala (Boiss.)
• Plumbago juncea (Bojer)
• Plumbago lactea (Salisb.)
• Plumbago flaccida (Moench)

Distribution

• Andaman Is. (native)
• Angola (native)
• Argentina Northwest (native)
• Arizona (native)
• Aruba (native)
• Assam (native)
• Bahamas (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Benin (native)
• Bolivia (native)
• Botswana (native)
• Brazil North (native)
• Brazil Northeast (native)
• Brazil South (native)
• Brazil Southeast (native)
• Brazil West-Central (native)
• Burkina (native)
• Burundi (native)
• Cameroon (native)
• Cape Provinces (native)
• Central African Repu (native)
• Chad (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Christmas I. (native)
• Colombia (native)
• Comoros (native)
• Congo (native)
• Costa Rica (native)
• Cuba (native)
• Djibouti (native)
• Dominican Republic (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Ecuador (native)
• El Salvador (native)
• Eritrea (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Florida (native)
• Free State (native)
• French Guiana (native)
• Galápagos (native)
• Gambia (native)
• Ghana (native)
• Guatemala (native)
• Guinea (native)
• Guinea-Bissau (native)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (native)
• Hainan (native)
• Haiti (native)
• Hawaii (native)
• Honduras (native)
• India (native)
• Ivory Coast (native)
• Jamaica (native)
• Jawa (native)
• Kenya (native)
• KwaZulu-Natal (native)
• Laos (native)
• Leeward Is. (native)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
• Liberia (native)
• Madagascar (native)
• Malawi (native)
• Malaya (native)
• Mali (native)
• Marianas (native)
• Marquesas (native)
• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Mozambique (native)
• Namibia (native)
• Nepal (native)
• Netherlands Antilles (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• New South Wales (native)
• Nicaragua (native)
• Niger (native)
• Nigeria (native)
• Norfolk Is. (native)
• Northern Provinces (native)
• Northern Territory (native)
• Oman (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Paraguay (native)
• Peru (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Puerto Rico (native)
• Queensland (native)
• Rwanda (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Senegal (native)
• Sierra Leone (native)
• Society Is. (native)
• Somalia (native)
• Southwest Caribbean (native)
• Sri Lanka (native)
• Sudan (native)
• Sulawesi (native)
• Sumatera (native)
• Suriname (native)
• Swaziland (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Texas (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Togo (native)
• Trinidad-Tobago (native)
• Tubuai Is. (native)
• Turks-Caicos Is. (native)
• Uganda (native)
• Venezuela (native)
• Venezuelan Antilles (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Western Australia (native)
• Windward Is. (native)
• Yemen (native)
• Zambia (native)
• Zaïre (native)
• Zimbabwe (native)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Laccadive Is. (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• Rodrigues (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Samoa (introduced)
• Tonga (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Jan 11, 2021 by Lice Hen (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 5, 2021 by Fr Viant (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 19, 2022 by Bablin Huidrom (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 19, 2022 by Bablin Huidrom (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 24, 2021 by Carmen Nieves-Figueroa (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Aug 26, 2019 by Franco Colnago (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 23, 2021 by Nagulapalli .T.V.Gurumurthy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 6, 2020 by nailon manuel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 23, 2021 by Nagulapalli .T.V.Gurumurthy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 17, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Anziz AHMED ABDOU (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jan 14, 2022 by Maarten Vanhove (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 26, 2021 by Maarten Vanhove (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 23, 2021 by Nagulapalli .T.V.Gurumurthy (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Nov 11, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 11, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 11, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 11, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 11, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Dec 2, 2019 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 9, 2012 by Endemia – Benoît Henry (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jun 17, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Anziz AHMED ABDOU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 2, 2019 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 9, 2012 by Endemia – Benoît Henry (cc-by-nc)

Other

Taken Feb 15, 2017 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Dec 3, 2015 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Dec 2, 2019 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 17, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Anziz AHMED ABDOU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 3, 2015 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3082282)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:687109-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Plumbago zeylanica L.)

Specifications

Growth