Plumbago zeylanica, commonly known as Ceylon leadwort, doctorbush or wild leadwort, is a species of plumbago with a pantropical distribution. Carl Linnaeus described the paleotropical P. zeylanica and Neotropical P. scandens as separate species, but they are currently considered synonymous.
Plumbago zeylanica is a herbaceous plant with glabrous stems that are climbing, prostrate, or erect. The leaves are petiolate or sessile and have ovate, lance-elliptic, or spatulate to oblanceolate blades that measure 5-9 à2.5âÂÂ4 cm in length. Bases are attenuate while apexes are acute, acuminate, or obtuse. Inflorescences are 3âÂÂ15 cm in length and have glandular, viscid rachises. Bracts are lanceolate and 3-7 à1âÂÂ2 mm long. The heterostylous flowers have white corollas 17âÂÂ33 mm in diameter and tubes 12.5âÂÂ28 mm in length. Capsules are 7.5âÂÂ8 mm long and contain are reddish brown to dark brown seeds.
Plumbago zeylanica grows throughout the tropical and sub-tropical climates of the world, including Australia and India. In Australia, it grows in the understory of monsoon forests and vine thickets from sea level to 900 m. In Dhofar, Oman, this species is often found growing on Olea trunks.
Plumbago zeylanica is a food plant for the Cassius blue (Leptotes cassius), marine blue (L. marina), and zebra blue (L. plinius) during their larval stages.
Early folk medicine used the crushed plant internally and externally as an abortifacient. In Ayurveda, P. zeylanica is known as chitrak, meaning "the spotted one". It is used with other herbs to lessen its intense pungency.