Rougeplant (Rivina humilis)

Teter abang or pigeonberry or rougeplant (Rivina humilis) is a species of shrub plant in Petiveriaceae, living in colonies on black soil under the shade of large trees, 0.4-2 m high, green perennial leaves for up to 15 cm long and 9 cm wide, leaf stalks have a length of 1-11 cm.

R. humilis has flowers in clumps with a length of 4-15 cm on the main stalk with a length of 1-5 cm (0.39-1.97 in) and strands with a length of 2-8 mm. Sepal is 1.5-3.5 mm long, white or green and will turn pink or purplish.

The berries are green and end up becoming shiny red when ripe, round in size from 2.5 to 5 mm and emit a red liquid if broken. More than 20 pieces appear in each panicle and are very noticeably filling the ground.

Rougeplant grows in forests, stretched land, curbs or becomes ornamental plants at a maximum height of 1,700 m above sea level. This species does not need much sunlight and stands under the shade of large trees including in golden bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris vittata) clump and is tolerant of salt soil.

Some reports say leaves, stems and roots have antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer and antipesticide properties. The fruits used as pigment-containing coloring agents are rivianin or rivinianin, 5-O-β-D-Glucopyranoside, 3-sulfate, CAS number 58115-21-2, C24H26N2O16S and betaxanthin humilixanthin.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Petiveriaceae
Genus: Rivina
Species: Rivina humilis

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