Yellow Alder

Overview

This plant is native to the West Indies from Mexico, Central America and several islands. It is widely naturalized and has been reported as an environmental weed in Australia, Indonesia, South America, Malaysia, Madagascar, and Oceania. It was first collected on the Island of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands in 1882 (US National Herbarium). In Malaysia and Indonesia, it has been reported as' abundant'.

Vernacular Names

West Indian Holly, Sage Rose (English), Bunga pukul delapan (Indonesia), Chanana (Brazil), Mari-lope (Cuba), Turnera (German), Cuban buttercup (India), Ram-goat dashalong (Jamaica), Caléndula (Mexico), and Gujg (USA).

Agroecology

It grows in areas where full sun or partial shade is present. This species is well adapted, including alkaline pH and dry sites, to a variety of soil conditions. Freezing temperatures kill the plants on the ground, but they are brought back to life by warm spring weather. In the tropics, the plant is widely grown as an ornamental, where it often escapes from cultivation. The lower limit temperature of 20 °C and the upper limit of 35 °C and mean annual precipitation of 800-2500 mm are preferred.

Morphology

• Stems - simple to very branched, woody at the base, cylindrical, brown or reddish in colour.
• Leaves - lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate or narrowly elliptic, moderately to occasionally sparsely strigillose, double-serrated margins, 0.8-1.5 cm long petioles, erect stipules, triangular, about 1.5 mm long, clustered toward the tips of the branches.
• Flowers - approximately 20 mm long calyx, 5-8 mm long tube, lanceolate lobes, caudate apex; yellow petals, sometimes with a brown spot towards the base, obovate, 20-35 mm long; ovary ovoid, 6 small apical tubers.
• Fruits - capsules ovoid, 7-8 mm long.
• Seeds - narrowly obovoid, slightly curved, about 2.5 mm long.

Cultivation

• Propagated by seeds, by division, or by cuttings.
• It is best to begin seeding in the spring. At any time of the year, cuttings can be rooted, quickly rooted in water or damp sand. When new growth is occurring, divisions should be taken up in spring.

Chemical Constituents

Saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, phenolic compounds, amino acid, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, kaempferol.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

Medicinal uses 

• Its medicinal properties can be used as antioxidants, anti inflammation, and antibacterial 

Traditional uses 

• The leaves are used for hair loss and thrush care.
• New laboratory evidence suggests that the extract of yellow alder (Turnera ulmifolia) can improve the effects of antibiotics in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin (MRSA). MRSA is a form of bacteria in which some antibiotics, including ampicillin (Principen®) and other penicillins, do not react to treatment.
• A tea made from leaves for treating gastrointestinal problems (constipation, diarrhea), colds and flu, and circulatory problems (heart palpitations), menstrual spasms, and dermatological problems used in herbal medicine in South America and the West Indies.
• Root boiled water for treating rheumatism with swelling