ulan gelaran

Yesterday, I was on my way to Trg from Johor via Mersing route. We stopped by at Petronas Mersing for refreshing. My mother asked if anyone know the name of the plant climber covering the big tree over the fence. My father immediately open his mouth after being quiet for the past few hours eleborating the usage of the plant. He said the name is "Ulan Gelaran". The leaves water extract was used to cleanse...during his berkhatan time. Caranya: Ambil beberapa helai daun Ulan gelaran, rebus. Airnya digunakan untuk mencuci luka dan daun yang empok di buat pupuk (tekup pada bahagian luka). Airnya kelat dan bewarna biru kehitaman. I will update more when I had done the cooking!

Here is my comment to this new climber. I notice this climber happily covered pokok sagu in many places. So this kind grows better in damp/swampy area. The stem is dark purple in colour, the shoot is dark purplish. When I detached one leaf from the stem, it yield sticky white latex. The smell of the crushed leaf (penyek daun like making poultice) is not bad....macam bau pokok keledek. Getahnya macam getah keledek. Mungkin ke sama family dengan keledek? tapi my father said it has no tubers. No holes what so ever on the leaves....insecticidal?

The name is unique. Is it the right name? How am I to search the net? Ulan or Ulang? or Ulam? Gelaran or gelaram or gelarang? which one? whwt does it mean? ('ulan gelaran' is what people from Pekan, Pahang call it). Please refer to the photo attached if you all out there know the name. Or what people around you call it.

Medicinal potential? Yes, could be. Coz it smells ok. High tannin I am sure by the sound of its water extract bitter taste and the colour of the stem.

Should I bring back the leaves to my lab?....yes maybe....