Juncus thomsonii, Thomson's Rush

Juncus thomsonii Buchenau
Family: Juncaceae
Synonym: Juncus leucomelas var. thomsonii (Buchenau) Buchenau, Juncus thomsonii var. fulvus K.F.Wu



Common name: Thomson's Rush
Chinese: 展苞灯心草

Description: Plants perennial, tufted in tussocks, (5--)10--20(--30) cm tall. Rhizome short. Stems terete, 0.6--1 mm in diam. Leaves all sub-basal, usually 2; leaf sheath reddish brown, margin scarious, auricles acute, membranous, free portion ca. 0.5 mm; leaf blade linear, 1--10 cm, apex with a callus. Inflorescences terminal; head solitary, 5--10 mm in diam., 2--8-flowered; bracts 3 or 4, spreading, ovate-lanceolate, 3--8 × 1--3 mm, shorter than head, apex obtuse. Perianth segments yellowish white, straw-colored, or chestnut brown, oblong-lanceolate, 4.5--5 × 1.2--1.6 mm, equal or inner ones slightly shorter than outer, apex obtuse. Stamens 6; filaments 4.3--6 mm; anthers linear, 1.6--2 mm. Style short; stigmas 1.1--2.2 mm. Capsule reddish brown to dark brown when mature, trigonous ellipsoid, 4--5 mm, 3-septate, apex beaked; beak 0.5--1.5 mm. Seeds oblong, 0.7--1 mm; appendages 2, whitish, 0.8--1 mm. Fl. Jul--Aug, fr. Aug--Sep.  

Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Takraa, Panchaanguli

Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd.
Family: Poaceae

Common name: Crowfoot Grass, beach wiregrass, coast button grass, comb fringe grass, Duck grass, Durban crowfoot, Egyptian fingergrass, Egyptian grass, finger comb grass, four-finger grass
Arabic: عدياب
Chinse:龙爪茅,
French: Dactylocténion d'Égypte
Hindi: मकड़ा Makra
Japanese: タツノツメガヤ
Malayalam: Kakkakalan pullu, Kavarapullu
Manipuri: পুঙফাঈ Pungphai
Sanskrit: Takraa, Takraahvaa, Panchaanguli, Nrityakaundaka.
Spanish: zacate egipcio, pata de gallo
Srilankan: පුටු තණ - putu thana
Svenska: Knapphirs
Thai: หญ้าปากควาย
Vietnamese: co chi, co'chân gà

Description: Annual; culms up to 70(100) cm high, usually geniculately ascending and rooting at the lower nodes, frequently shortly stoloniferous and mat-forming, less often erect. Leaf-blades flat, 3-25 cm long, 2.5-7.5 mm wide, papillose-hispid especially along the margins. Inflorescence composed of (1)3-9 linear to narrowly oblong spikes 1.2-6.5 cm long. Spikelets 3-4-flowered, broadly ovate, 3.5-4.5 mm long; glumes subequal, 1.5-2.2 mm long, the lower lanceolate in profile with a thick scabrid keel, the upper elliptic to narrowly obovate in profile, the smooth keel extended into a stout divergent scabrid awn half to twice as long as the glume; lemmas narrowly ovate to ovate in profile, 2.6-4 mm long, the keel gibbous, concave and scabrid above the middle and often extended into a stout cusp or mucro up to 1 mm long; palea-keels winged or wingless; anthers 0.25-0.8 mm long. Grain about 1 mm long, broadly obovate to obtriangular in profile, transversely rugose.

Annual,  tufted,  blades  shortly ascendent,  20-50 cm  high,  ramified  at  base,  leafy sheaths  smooth, bare.  Caryopses of various shapes, mostly  ±   spherical,  lateral  compressed,  distinct humpy,  0.9-1.1  x  0.7-0.9mm.  Surface  slight lustrous, pale reddish-brown. 2n = 36 (20, 34, 40). [ATLAS OF SEEDS AND FRUITS OF CENTRAL AND EAST-EUROPEAN FLORA]

Ayurvedic uses: Astringent, bitter tonic, anthelmintic. Used for polyurea; externally for wounds and ulcers. In Indian medicine, the grass is used for imparting medicinial properties of Takra (buttermilk) in intestinal, biliary and urinary diseases. [Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary]

Whole plant: In a decoction for lumbago. Leaf: Infusion mixed with seeds of Cajanus cajan used to accelerate childbirth. Decoction of leaves with Scoparia dulcis for dysentery. [Medicinal Plants of the Guianas (Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana) ]

34 Published articles of Dactyloctenium aegyptium

Nelumbo nucifera, Lotus, Kamal, Tamara

Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.
Family: Nelumbonaceae

Common name: Lotus, Sacred lotus, East Indian Lotus
Arabic: نيلومبو جوزي
Assamese: Padam
Bengali: কমল Komol, পদ্মা Padma
Bulgarian: Индийски лотос
Chinese: 莲
German: Indische Lotosblume
Gujarati: Motunkamal
Hindi: कमल Kamal, Pundarika, पद्म Padma
Indonesian: Seroja
Kannada: ಕಮಲ kamala, Tavare-gadde
Malayalam: താമര Tamara
Manipuri: থম্বাল Thambal
Marathi: Pandkanda, कमल Kamal
Oriya: ପଦମ Padam
Persian: لاله مردابی
Polish: Lotos orzechodajny
Sanskrit: सरसिज Sarsija, Pankeruha, शारदा Sharada, अम्बुज Ambuj, Kamalam
Tamil: தாமரை Tamarai, அம்பல் Ambal
Telugu: తామర పువ్వు Tamara puvvu,
Turkish: Hint lotusu
Urdu: نیلوفر Nilufer
Vietnamese: Sen hồng

Ayurvedic uses: Rapktapitta, Visarpa, Trishna Daaha, Vvishavikara, Chardi, Mutcha, Kasa, Vatagulam, visarpa, visphota, Mutrakruchha, jvara, Bhrama, Hrudroga (API)

The lotus is revered across Asia wherever Hinduism and Buddhism predominate, and it is the most sacred plant in Thailand. Lotus flowers can be found growing on the grounds of most temples, universities, and government buildings. They are commonly given to monks by the devout as symbols of reverence and are positioned prominently upon Buddhist altars across Thailand. The lotus is symbolic of the human soul’s transmigration through life. Growing in swamps, the plant begins its life-cycle under muddy water, slowly breaking through to the surface, where it blooms. Similarly, in the Buddhist and Hindu belief system, the soul is reincarnated again and again in the “mud” of the world, until it breaks through to the surface and blooms in Enlightenment. [A Thai Herbal Traditional Recipes for Health and Harmony]

Used  in  Ayurveda,  Unani  and  Sidha.  Milky  viscid  juice of  the  leaves  astringent  and  cooling,  useful  in  dysentery and  diarrhea.  Rhizome  powder  taken  to  cure  piles;  rhizome  extract  given  for  diarrhea,  dysentery  and  dyspepsia; cooked tubers eaten for dropsy; rhizome paste used against ringworms. Paste of leaves and rhizome used in ringworm. Flowers as cooling astringent in diarrhea and cholera, also a cardiac tonic. Ceremonial, ritual, rosaries made of seeds, wealth rituals for worshipping Lakshmi/Laxmi as goddess; flowers offered to Lord Shiva, offered to deities by Hindus during worship. [CRC World Dictionary of MEDICINAL AND POISONOUS PLANTS Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology]

Phytoconstituents:  Nuciferin,  nornuciferin,  nelumboroside A & B ,   nelumstemine,  dotriacontane,  ricinoleic,  roemerin,  liensinine,  neferine,  lotusine, liriodenine, asimilobin, pronuciferine and others.
Traditional  Medicinal  Uses:  The  leaves  are  used  to  treat  sunstroke,  diarrhoea, dysentery, fever, dizziness and vomiting of blood.[9] The plant is used as  an antidote for mushroom poisoning and for  smallpox. In Ayurveda, the  plant  is  used  to  treat  cholera,  diarrhoea,  worm  infestation,  vomiting,  exhaustion and intermittent fever. The fruits are used in decoction for agitation, fever, heart and haematemesis while the stamens are used to “purify the  heart, permeate the kidneys,  strengthen virility, to blacken the hair,  for haemoptysis  and  spermatorrhoea”. They  are  also  used  to  treat  premature  ejaculation,  as  astringent  for  bleeding,  excessive  bleeding  from  the  uterus, abdominal cramps, bloody discharges, metrorrhagia, non-expulsion  of the amniotic sac, and as cooling agent during cholera. The seeds  are  believed  to  promote  virility,  for  leucorrhoea  and  gonorrhoea. Powdered  beans  are used in treating digestive disorders, particularly diarrhoea. They  are also used as a tonic, for enteritis, insomnia, metrorrhagia, neurasthenia,  nightmare, spermatorrhoea, splenitis and seminal emissions. The roots are  for the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, dyspepsia, ringworm and other skin  ailments and as a tonic as well.

Bio-Activities.    Vasodilation  (methylcorypalline),  uterine  smooth  muscle relaxation demethylcoclaurine)  (1),  hypotensive  (liensinine, benzylisoquinoline dimer) (2), antihypercholesterolaemic (3). Chemical  components. Alkaloids  (1):  lotusine,  demethylcoclaurine, liensinine,  isoliensinine,  neferine,  nornuciferine,  pronuciferine, methylcorypalline, norarmepavine, liriodenine. Flavonoids (4): nelumboside. [ Medicinal  Plants  in the Republic of Korea]

In Asia, the fruits of the lotus, or lian, fu chu (Chinese), and teratai (Malay), are sold in the market for the seeds, which are edible and medicinal. In China, the seeds are used to preserve the body’s  health  and  strength,  to  cool,  to  promote  blood  circulation,  and  to  treat  leucorrhea  and gonorrhea. The rhizomes are edible and after cooking they form a sweet mucilaginous food that is taken to assuage a stomachache, to strengthen the body, to increase the mental faculties, and to quiet the spirit. The inflorescence is antihemorrhagic, and given as a postpartum remedy. The leaves are used to break fever, as an antihemorrhagic, to precipitate childbirth, and to treat skin diseases. The petiole is used to quiet the uterus. The flowers are spoken of in the Pentsao and believed to drive away old age and to give a fine complexion. [Medicinal Plants  of Asia  and the Pacific]

Vomiting, haemoptysis, tachycardia, pyrexia, stiffness of neck, giddiness, restlessness, leucorrhoea, spermatorrhoea, impotency and aging. Dosage: Dried powder is orally used in a dose of 8 - 10 gm per day and decoction is used in the dose of 25 - 50 ml per day. [MEDICINAL PLANTS OF MYANMAR]

760 Published articles of Nelumbo nucifera

Clerodendrum indicum, Bhargi, Bharangi, Hunjika

Clerodendrum indicum (L.) Kuntze
Family: Lamiaceae

Synonyms: Clerodendrum indicum f. semiserratum (Wall.) Moldenke, Clerodendrum longicolle G.Mey., Clerodendrum mite (L.) Vatke, Clerodendrum semiserratum Wall. , Clerodendrum siphonanthus R.Br. , Clerodendrum verticillatum Roxb. ex D.Don , Ovieda mitis L., Ovieda verticillatum Roxb. ex D.Don , Siphonanthus angustifolius Willd., Siphonanthus indicus L.

Common name: Tubeflower, Turk's-Turban, Sky Rocket, Bowing Lady
Chinese: 长管假茉莉 , 长管大青
French: Herbe au long cou
Hindi: भरंगी Bharangi
Manipuri: কুথপ Kuthap
Bengali: Bamunhati
Tamil: Kavalai, Narivalai
Kannada: ಭರಂಗೀ Bharangi, ಹುನ್ಜಿಕಾ Hunjika
Sanskrit: Bhargi

Description: Erect subshrubs to 2 m tall, stoloniferous; stem mostly unbranched, obtusely tetragonous, hollow. Leaves in whorls of 3-4, 7-22 x 2-4 cm, linear-lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, base attenuate to acute, margin entire or more or less toothed, apex acute or acuminate, sessile or subsessile. Flowers in terminal panicles. Bracts foliaceous resembling the leaves in all respects but smaller; bracteoles 5-12 x 2-3 mm, linear. Calyx 5-partite, red, broadly campanulate; tube 4-6 mm long; lobes 5, 6-10 mm long, ovate, apex acute. Corolla white, hypocrateriform; tube slender, 8-13 cm long, curved; lobes 8-15 mm long, oblong or ovate-oblong, obtuse, reflexed. Stamens 4, exserted; filaments purple, slender; anthers oblong, c. 2.5 mm long, purple. Sytle filiform, purple; stigma shortly bifid. Frit 4-lobed, blue-black, 1-1.3 cm across; pyrenes 1-4, 1-seeded; fruiting-calyx accrescent, fleshy, bright red.

Root—used for asthma, cough, scrofulous affections. Leaf—vermifuge. Resin—antirheumatic. The plant is also used in fever, atrophy, emaciation of cachexia and consumption.
The leaves contain flavonoids—scutellarein, hispidulin and their 7-O-glucuronides; also sterols.
Flowers contain beta-sitosterol and triterpenoids. The bark yields hexitol and sorbitol. The flavone, pectolinarin and a diterpene, oncinotine, exhibit antifeedant activity. [Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary].

16 Published articles of Clerodendrum indicum

Crinum asiaticum, Naagadamani, Visamungil, Adavi ulli

Crinum asiaticum L.
Family: Amaryllidaceae

Synonyms: Amaryllis carnosa Hook.f., Bulbine asiatica (L.) Gaertn., Crinum albiflorum Noronha [Invalid], Crinum angustifolium Herb. ex Steud. [Invalid], Crinum anomalum Herb., Crinum asiaticum var. asiaticum, Crinum asiaticum var. declinatum Herb., Crinum asiaticum var. procerum (Herb. & Carey) Baker, Crinum bancanum Kurz, Crinum bracteatum Willd., Crinum brevifolium Roxb., Crinum carinifolium Stokes, Crinum cortifolium Hallier f., Crinum declinatum Herb., Crinum floridum Fraser ex Herb., Crinum hornemannianum M.Roem., Crinum macrantherum Engl., Crinum macrocarpum Carey ex Kunth, Crinum macrophyllum Hallier f., Crinum northianum Baker, Crinum plicatum Livingstone ex Hook., Crinum procerum Herb. & Carey, Crinum redouteanum M.Roem., Crinum rigidum Herb., Crinum rumphii Merr., Crinum sumatranum Roxb., Crinum toxicarium Roxb., Crinum umbellatum Carey ex Herb., Crinum woolliamsii L.S.Hannibal, Crinum zanthophyllum Hannibal, Haemanthus pubescens Blanco, Lilium pendulum Noronha

Bengali: BARO-KANOOR (বড় কানুড়), সুখদর্শন
Chinese: 文殊蘭
Hindi: Sudarshan सुदर्शन, Nagadamani नागदामिनी
Japanese: ハマユウ
Korean: 문주란
Malayalam: Puzhatthali, Pulattali
Malay: Pokok Bakung
Russian: Pokok Bakung
Sanskrit: Naagadamani, Naagapatra, Sudarshana
Swidish: Strandkrinum
Tamil: விஷமூங்கில் Visamungil
Telugu: అడవి ఉల్లి
Thai: พลับพลึง
Vietnamese: Náng

Desctiption: Bulbous herbs; bulb globose, 12 x 10 cm, neck 10-20 cm. Leaves clustered from the apex of bulbs, oblong, 70-100 x 1.5-8.5 cm, flat, coriaceous, glabrous, narrow at base, margin entire, apex gradually tapering. Scape to 30 cm long, often more, 1-2 cm across; umbels 10-17 cm, 30(50)-flowered; bracts hooded, ovate-lanceolate, 7-8.5 x 4.5 -5 cm; bracteoles to 5 cm. Flowers to 16.5 cm long, 10(14) cm across. Perianth salver-shaped; tube to 10 cm; lobes white, oblong-linear, to 7 x 1.2 cm, glabrous, 18-20 nerved, subacute, cuspidate. Filaments to 4.5 cm; anthers 2x0.2 cm. Ovary 3-celled; ovule(s) 1 or 2; style to 15 cm.

Used in Ayurveda, Unani and Sidha. Poisonous plant used  to treat breasts infections; stem fibers used to stop bleeding;  underground stem crushed used for massaging the chest for  chest pain due to cough. Leaves used to treat wounds, sores,  swollen joints, sprained joints and broken bones, snakebites,  cuts and body swellings; leaf juice dropped into ear. Roots in  a poultice for wounds, ulcers and swellings. Bulbs reputed to  be poisonous, antiviral, antibacterial, anti tumor, emetic, dia- phoretic, antiinflammatory, immunostimulative, for urinary  troubles, earache, as antidote for snake and arrow poison, and  after eating poison fish. Veterinary medicine, leaves to avoid  infection in hens, coccidiosis. [CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal And Poisonous Plants Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology]
The plant has been used for carbuncles and cancer. In Indonesia, the oiled and heated leaves are useful to treat wounds by poisoned arrows, bites and stings. In Malaysia, poultices of the leaves are applied to swellings, swollen joints, lumbago, pains and in cases of headache and fever. The leaves  are  also  an emollient.  In Northwest  Solomon Islands, the  leaves  make  a  topical  treatment  for  inflammation.  In  Malaysia,  the leaves are used as a rheumatic remedy and to relieve local pain. On Karkar Island and in Simbu, Papua New Guinea, the latex from the leaves is applied to cuts. In India, the leaves are applied to skin diseases and inflammation. The crushed leaves  are used to wash piles or mixed with honey and applied to wounds and abscesses. Its seeds are considered purgative and emmenag- ogic. In the Trobriands, Papua New Guinea, the stem fibres are used to stop bleeding and in New Ireland, the milky sap from the stem is used for stone- fish  wounds.  The  bulb  is  an  emetic  and  counter-irritant.  In  Papua  New Guinea, juice obtained from bulb is ingested regularly for 2 months to treat gonorrhoea.  In the Philippines, the bulbs are crushed and applied as an oint- ment.  Juice from the  fresh bulbs,  taken  several  times  per month induces vomiting.  It is  also  instilled in the  ear to treat otitis.  The root is  also  an emetic, diaphoretic and nauseant when fresh. In a Finschhafen area village, Papua New Guinea, the cut root is cooked in a banana leaf, then cooled and placed on an aching tooth.  Roots are used in New Caledonia, Indonesia, and Malaysia in a poultice for wounds, ulcers and swellings.  Phytoconstituents:  Crinamine,  lycoricidine,  hamayne,  isocraugsodine, palmilycorine, lycoriside, ambelline, crinasiatin, hippadine, bakonine, pratorimine,  crinine,  powelline,  ungeremine,  criasbetaine,  crinasiatine, phenanthridone II and others. [A  Guide  to Medicinal Plants An Illustrated,  Scientific  and Medicinal  Approach]
 Bulb—laxative (a substitute for ipecacuanha), expectorant. Used in biliousness, and in strangury and other urinary affections. Also used for the treatment of burns, whitlow and carbuncle. Fresh root—diaphoretic, emetic. Leaves—expectorant; externally, anti-inflammatory (used in skin diseases and for reducing inflammations). Seed—emmenagogue, diuretic. [Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary]
The medicinal profile of Crinum asiaticum L. is the one of the most poisonous plants: emetic and counter-irritant. In Indonesia, the oiled and heated leaves are used to treat strangury and to heal wounds occasioned by poi- soned arrows, bites, and stings. In Malaysia, a poultice of the pow- dered leaves is used to soothe swelling, swollen joints, to treat lumbago, to assuage pain and headache and to combat fever. In Papua New Guinea, the juice expressed from the bulb is used to treat gonorrhea. In the Philippines, the bulbs are crushed and applied externally and the leaves are emol- lient. In the Northwest of Solomon Islands, the bulbs are used at child- birth and the leaves are used to soothe inflammation. [Medicinal Plants of The Aisa-Pacific: Drugs For The Future?]

Leaves are heated and it is adhered on arthritis and injuries. Expressed juice of fresh leaves is externally used for skin infections and herpes. [MEDICINAL PLANTS OF MYANMAR]
52 Published articles of Crinum asiaticum

Cocculus laurifolius, laurel-leaf snailseed

Cocculus laurifolius DC.
Family: Menispermaceae

Synonyms: Cebatha laurifolia (DC.) Kuntze, Cocculus angustifolius Hassk. , Cocculus bariensis Pierre ex Gagnep., Galloa trinervis Hassk.

English: laurel-leaf snailseed
Chinese: 衡州乌药
Malayalam: ആടുകൊല്ലി Aadukolli, Marpinki
Chinese: 樟叶木防己
Russian: Коккулус лавролистный
Other names:  dal  chini,  kikra,  marpingi,  nagdaun, pard, paror, parura, tilpara, tilpharo, tilpharya
Japanese: Iso-yama-ao-ki, Koshû-u-yaku

Description: Trees up to 6 m tall; branches drooping; branchlets glabrous. Leaves simple, alternate, spiral; petiole 3-8 mm, slender; lamina 7-12 x 3-5.5 cm, elliptic or elliptic-oblanceolate, base acute or cuneate, apex acute or acuminate, margin entire, glabrous, shining above, chartaceous; basal nerves 3, strong, almost parallel to the margin beyond the middle of lamina; intercostae reticulate, slender, faint. Flowers unisexual, in axillary panicles; sepals 6, ovate, obtuse; petals 6, 2 x 1.5 mm, broadly obtuse, glabrous; stamens 6 in male flowers; free, anthers ovate, within curved margins; staminodes 12 in female flowers, seriate, outer staminodes ovate, tri lobed, with a small middle-lobe; inner smaller, cup shaped; ovaries 3, free, curved, 1-ovuled; stigma sessile, curved out. Fruit a drupe, rotund, glabrous, depressed at either ends; seed 1; endocarp with small curved aperture on both sides, finely ridged on dorsal surface.

32 Published articles of Cocculus laurifolius

Cocculus hirsutus, Broom Creeper, Ink berry, patalagarudi

Cocculus hirsutus (L.) W.Theob.
Family: Menispermaceae

Synonyms: Cebatha hirsuta (L.) Kuntze, Cebatha villosa C.Chr., Cocculus aristolochiae DC., Cocculus hastatus DC., Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Diels, Cocculus holopeira-torrida Broun & R.L.Massey, Cocculus linnaeanus Kurz, Cocculus sepium Colebr., Cocculus villosus DC., Holopeira auriculata Miers, Holopeira laeviuscula Miers, Holopeira torrida Miers, Holopeira villosa (Lam.) Miers, Limacia villosa (DC.) W.Theob., Menispermum hastatum Lam., Menispermum hirsutum L., Menispermum myosotoides L., Menispermum villosum Lam.

Description: Perennial climber, 2-3 m. Leaves 3-5-veined from the base, variable in shape, older leaves often distinctly 3-5-lobed, younger leaves oblong-ovate to somewhat obovate, covered in yellowish velvety hairs, apex with a small sharp mucro. Flowers in axillary clusters, unisexual; sepals densely hairy. Fruit somewhat ellipsoid, c. 4 mm in diameter, fleshy, purple-blue when ripe.

• Common name: Broom Creeper, ink berry
• Bengali: huyer
• Hindi: फ़रीद बूटी farid buti
• Kannada: ದಾಗಡಿ ಬಳ್ಳಿ daagadi balli, ದಾಗಡಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು daagadi soppu, ಕಾಗೆ ಮಾರಿ kaage maari
• Konkani: वासनवेल vasanvel
• Malayalam: പാതാളഗരുഡക്കൊടി paathaalagarudakkoti, പാതാളമൂലി paathaalamuuli
• Marathi: वासनवेल vasanvel
• Punjabi: ਫਰੀਦ ਬੂਟੀ farid buti, ਵੱਲੂਰ wallur
• Oriya: musakani
• Sanskrit: अम्बष्ठः ambastha, दीर्घकन्द dirghakanda, दीर्घवल्ली dirghavalli, गारुडी garudi, महामूल mahamula, पातालगारुडी patalagarudi, प्राचीन pracina, सौपर्णी sauparni, सोमवल्ली somavalli, श्रेयसी sreyasi, स्थपनी sthapani, वनतिक्तकः vanatiktaka, वत्सादनी vatsadani, विद्धकर्णी viddhakarni
• Shona: Sisi
• Tamil: காட்டுக்கொடி kattu-k-koti
• Telugu: చీపురుతీగ chipuru-tiga, దూసరితీగ dusaritiga, కట్లతీగె katlatige
• Urdu: फ़रीद बूटी farid buti, zambur

Used  in  Ayurveda,  Unani  and  Sidha.  Antifungal.  Roots  tonic,  febrifuge,  alterative,  diuretic,  laxative,  an  infusion  taken for jaundice and stomach pain; root decoction applied  against fever, rheumatism; root made into a paste and given  internally in menorrhagia; powdered roots mixed with sugar  taken orally against weakness and fatigue. Crushed leaves for  the bleeding of the lower digestive tract, dysentery, gonor- rhea, inflammation and rheumatism; leaves crushed in castor  oil and the paste applied on sprain; leaf paste applied for skin  burns and skin diseases; leaf extract mixed with curd and  given to overcome spermatorrhea and bleeding, also drunk  for scorpion sting; leaf infusion taken to treat stomachache  and leaf decoction drunk against female sterility and leucorrhea; febrifuge, leaf juice mixed with sugar febrifuge and to  treat nervous illnesses; leaf juice applied externally on fore- head to relieve headache; a mucilaginous gel from the leaf  juice applied as cooling and soothing in eczema and venereal diseases. Veterinary medicine, leaves crushed with sugar administered with water to control dysentery; leaves pounded with garlic and black pepper and given orally for epistaxis. leaf juice rubbed on the body to remove lice or external parasitic insects; leaves given to goats as a lactagogue; ground roots for fracture of limb. [CRC World Dictionary of MEDICINAL AND POISONOUS PLANTS Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology]

Root—laxative, sudorific, alterative, antirheumatic. Leaf—used externally for eczema, prurigo and inpetigo. A decoction of leaves is taken in eczema, leucorrhoea and gonorrhoea. Aqueous extract of stem and root—sedative, anticonvulsant, hypotensive, bradycardiac, cardiotonic and sapasmolytic. Roots are used as a substitute for Sarsaparilla in chronic rheumatism
gout, and syphilitic cachexia. The stem contains cyclopeptide alkaloids. The plant contains coclaurine, magnoflorine, beta-sitosterol, ginnol and a monomethyl ether of inositol. [Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary]

73 Published articles of Cocculus hirsutus

Nymphoides indica, Kumudini, Chinnambal, Chandmala, Water snowflake

Nymphoides indica (L.) Kuntze
Family: Menyanthaceae

Synonyms: Limnanthemum esquirolii H. Lév., Limnanthemum humboldtianum (Kunth) Griseb., Limnanthemum humboldtianum var. parviflorum Griseb., Limnanthemum indicum (L.) Griseb., Limnanthemum senegalense N.E.Br., Limnanthemum thunbergianum Griseb., Menyanthes brasilica Vell., Menyanthes indica L., Menyanthes petioliflora Stokes, Nymphoides humboldtiana (Kunth) Kuntze, Nymphoides thunbergiana (Griseb.) Kuntze, Trachysperma humboldtiana (Kunth) House, Villarsia communis A.St.-Hil., Villarsia glandulosa Griff., Villarsia humboldtiana Kunth, Villarsia indica (L.) Vent., Villarsia nymphaeifolia Fraser, Villarsia platiphylla A.St.-Hil., Villarsia rheedei Kostel., Villarsia senegalensis G. Don, Villarsia simsii G.Don, Villarsia swartzii G.Don, Villarsia trachysperma F.Muell.

English: Water snowflake
Bengali: Chandmala
Chinese: 印度荇菜, 白花莕菜, 金银莲花
French: Faux-nénuphar d'Inde
Kannada: Neeru Thaavare
Malayalam: Thakaram
Manipuri: থরো মচা Tharo Macha
Tamil: சின்னாம்பல் Chinnambal
Telugu: Anthara Thaamara

Description: Rhizomatous herbs; rhizome 2-3 cm thick with prominent branch scars. Primary fertile branches many, petiole-like and uniphyllous, highly variable in length depending on the depth of water; secondary branches sympodial, zig-zag, many-jointed, trailing on water surface; each joint uniphyllous; nodes often rooting. Leaves all cauline, fertile and floating, to about 25 cm across, ovate-orbicular, base deeply cordate with narrow sinuses, entire or subentire, fleshy, glossy green above, pale and gland-dotted beneath ; petiole to 3 cm long. Flowers bisexual, distylous in umbellate clusters from the junction of the petiole and the branch; bract to 7 x 4 mm, ovate or oblong; pedicel 5-10 cm long. Calyx deeply 5-partite; lobes to 6 x 2 mm, oblong-acute, green with hyaline margins. Corolla white with yellow throat; tube c. 2 mm long; lobes 5, to 13x4 mm, elliptic or oblong, acute, densely covered with long, white hairs within. Stamens as many as corolla lobes, dimorphic; filaments yellow. Ovary bottle- shaped; stigma sinuately 4-8 lobed; disc glands as many as stamens, orbicular. Capsules ellipsoid. Seeds c. 1.5 mm across, discoid, brownish, tubercled.  

33 Published articles of Nymphoides indica

Cissampelos pareira

Cissampelos pareira L.
Family Menispermaceae

Synonyms: Cissampelos argentea Kunth, Cissampelos auriculata Miers, Cissampelos australis A.St.-Hil., Cissampelos benthamiana Miers, Cissampelos boivinii Baill., Cissampelos bojeriana Miers, Cissampelos caapeba L., Cissampelos canescens Miq., Cissampelos cocculus Poir., Cissampelos consociata Miers, Cissampelos convolvulacea Willd., Cissampelos cordifolia Bojer, Cissampelos cumingiana Turcz., Cissampelos delicatula Miers, Cissampelos diffusa Miers, Cissampelos discolor DC., Cissampelos discolor A.Gray, Cissampelos diversa Miers, Cissampelos elata Miers, Cissampelos ellenbeckii Diels, Cissampelos eriantha Miers, Cissampelos eriocarpa Triana & Planch., Cissampelos glaucescens Triana & Planch., Cissampelos gracilis A.St.-Hil., Cissampelos grallatoria Miers, Cissampelos guayaquilensis Kunth, Cissampelos haenkeana C.Presl, Cissampelos hederacea Miers, Cissampelos heterophylla DC., Cissampelos hirsuta Buch.-Ham. ex DC., Cissampelos hirsutissima C.Presl, Cissampelos kohautiana C.Presl, Cissampelos limbata Miers, Cissampelos littoralis A.St.-Hil., Cissampelos longipes Miers, Cissampelos madagascariensis Miers, Cissampelos madagascariensis (Baill.) Diels, Cissampelos mauritiana Thouars, Cissampelos microcarpa DC., Cissampelos monoica A.St.-Hil., Cissampelos myriocarpa Triana & Planch., Cissampelos nephrophylla Bojer, Cissampelos obtecta Wall. ex Miers, Cissampelos obtecta Wall., Cissampelos orbiculata (L.) DC., Cissampelos orinocensis Kunth, Cissampelos pannosa Turcz., Cissampelos pareiroides DC., Cissampelos pata Roxb. ex Wight & Arn., Cissampelos perrieri Diels, Cissampelos pilgeri Diels, Cissampelos poilanei Gagnep., Cissampelos reticulata Borhidi, Cissampelos salzmannii Turcz., Cissampelos subpeltata Thwaites, Cissampelos subpeltata Thwaites ex Miers, Cissampelos subreniformis Triana & Planch., Cissampelos tamoides Willd. ex DC., Cissampelos testudinum Miers, Cissampelos tetrandra Roxb., Cissampelos tomentocarpa Rusby, Cissampelos tomentosa DC., Cissampelos violifolia Rusby, Cocculus membranaceus Wall. [Invalid], Cyclea madagascariensis Baill., Cissampelos discolor var. cardiophylla A.Gray, Cissampelos littoralis var. minutiflora A.St.-Hil. & Tul., Cissampelos pareira var. australis (A.St.-Hil.) Diels, Cissampelos pareira var. caapeba (L.) Eichler, Cissampelos pareira f. emarginatomucronata Chodat & Hassl., Cissampelos pareira var. gardneri Diels, Cissampelos pareira var. haenkeana (C.Presl) Diels, Cissampelos pareira var. hirsuta (Buch.-Ham. ex DC.) Forman, Cissampelos pareira var. laevis Diels, Cissampelos pareira var. mauritiana (Thouars) Diels, Cissampelos pareira var. monoica (A.St.-Hil.) Eichler, Cissampelos pareira var. nephrophylla (Bojer) Diels, Cissampelos pareira var. orbiculata (L.) Miq., Cissampelos pareira var. pareira, Cissampelos pareira var. peltata Scheff., Cissampelos pareira var. racemiflora Eichler, Cissampelos pareira var. tamoides (Willd. ex DC.) Diels, Cissampelos pareira var. transitoria Engl., Cissampelos pareira var. wildei Benv.

Published articles here

Amomum subulatum brown cardamom

Amomum subulatum Roxb.
Family: Zingiberaceae
Synonym: Cardamomum subulatum (Roxb.) Kuntze

Common name: Black Cardamom, hill cardamom, Bengal cardamom, greater cardamom, Indian cardamom, Nepal cardamom, winged cardamom, brown cardamom
Azarbizanica: Bizvari hil
Bengali: Boro alach
Chinese: 香豆蔻
Czech: Nepálský kardamom
Experanto: Amomo
German: Schwarzer Kardamom
Gujarati: એલચો
Hindi: बड़ी इलायची Badi ilaichi
Kashmiri: Bari aleh بڑہ ألہ
Malayalam: പേരേലം
Nepali: अलैंची, ठूलो सुकुमेल Alaichi, Thulo sukumel
Norwegian: Svart kardemomme
Persian: هل سیاه
Tibetian: ཀ་ཀོ་ལ།
Urdu: Bari elaichi الائچی پوربی
Vietnamese: Đậu khấu thơm

Description: Plants 1--2 m tall. Ligule 3--4 mm, membranous, apex rounded, emarginate; petiole absent or nearly so on proximal leaves, 1--3 cm on distal ones; leaf blade oblong-lanceolate, 25--60 × 3.5--11 cm, glabrous, base rounded or cuneate, apex long cuspidate. Spikes subturbinate, ca. 5 cm in diam.; peduncle 0.5--4.5 cm, scalelike sheaths brown; bracts pale red, ovate, ca. 3 cm, apex obtuse with horny cusp; bracteoles tubular, ca. 3 cm, apex acute, emarginate. Calyx glabrous, 3-cleft to middle; lobes subulate. Corolla tube equaling calyx; lobes yellow, central one subulate at apex. Lateral staminodes red, subulate, ca. 2 mm. Labellum with yellow midvein, oblong, ca. 3 cm, white pubescent, veins conspicuous, apex involute. Filament ca. 5 mm; anther ca. 1 cm; connective appendage elliptic, entire, ca. 4 mm. Capsule purple or red-brown, globose, 2--2.5 cm in diam., with 10 undulate wings, apex with persistent calyx. Fl. May--Jun, fr. Jun--Sep. 2 n = 48.

Used in Ayurveda, Unani and Sidha. Seeds astringent, aromatic,  hypnotic,  cardiotonic,  blood  purifier,  carminative, diuretic, aphrodisiac, stimulant, stomachic, used in neuralgia, gonorrhea, anorexia, eye inflammation, fever, cold, chill, malaria,  neuralgia,  diarrhea,  gonorrhea,  headache,  impotence,  dyspepsia,  vomiting,  antidote  to  scorpion  sting  and snakebite, a gargle in affections of the teeth and gums; fried powdered seeds given with water in cholera; seeds decoction given  in  abdominal  pain  and  in  heart  and  liver  disorders; powdered seeds used in cough, vomiting, rectum diseases. Crushed fruit applied over the area affected by a scorpion bite, also given to eat. [CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants]
The Wealth of India says that the seeds are used for spice and medicine, much as those of A. subulatum. Indeed, they are so alike that Hager’s Handbook (1972) treats them under the same entry. I’m inclined to do the same thing here in this spice book, knowing how difficult members of the ginger family are to separate taxonomically. Ayurvedics use the pungent seeds for abdominal pains, biliousness, enlarged spleen, indigestion, itch, and other ailments of the head, mouth, and rectum (KAB). The herbal PDR notes that TCM uses the species for diarrhea, digestive upsets, malaria, and vomiting. The seeds are credited as being alexeteric, astringent, stimulant, and stomachic, having been prescribed for abdominal diseases, biliousness, dyspepsia, rectal diseases, and vomiting. In large doses (30 grains), the seeds are taken with quinine for neuralgia. The seed decoction is gargled for gum and tooth problems. The seeds, with those of melon,  are  used  as  diuretics  in  kidney  stones  (WOI).  Seeds  promote  elimination  of  bile,  hence useful in liver problems. Seeds also used in gonorrhea (WOI). Unani regard the seeds as astringent, cardiotonic, hepatotonic, hypnotic, orexigenic and stomachic (KAB). The husk of the fruit (pericarp) is used for headache and “heals stomatitis” (WOI). While I’d be reluctant myself, Indians apply the aromatic oil from the seeds to their eyes to soothe inflammation. [CRC Handbook of Medicinal Spices]

88 Published articles of Amomum subulatum

Tiliacora racemosa, Tiliacora acuminata

 Tiliacora racemosa Colebr. Synonym: Tiliacora acuminata Miers
Family: Menispermaceae

Tiliacora racemosa Colebr.
Synonym: Tiliacora acuminata Miers
Family: Menispermaceae

Malayalam: Vallikanjiram
Kannada: kuri balli
Tamil: பெருங்கட்டுக்கொடி, Perunkattukkoti, Kodaparuvavalli,
Telugu: అడవి తమలపాకు, adavi thamalapaaku, కప్పతీగ kappa teega, నాగముషిని naagamushini, వెర్రి చిత్రమూలము verri chitramulamu

Description: Climbing shrubs; stems striate, sparsely puberulous or glabrous. Leaves alternate, ovate or lanceolate, truncate, cordate, rarely acute at base, acuminate at apex, 8-14 x 3.5- 8 cm, chartaceous, glabrous, 3-5 nerved at base; petioles 1.5-3 cm long, sulcate, glabrous. Inflorescences axillary, panicled, 3.5-10 cm long, pubescent. Male flowers 2-7 at apex of inflorescence, yellow; sepals 6 in 2 rows; inner ones broadly elliptic, glabrous; petals 6, obovate, glabrous; stamens 6, cylindric. Female flower solitary; sepals and petals as in male ones; carpels 8-12, glabrous, on stalked puberulous gynophore. Drupes on branched carpophores, oblong to obovoid, 10-15 x 6-7 mm, glabrous, red when ripe; endocarp reticulate.

26 Published articles of Tiliacora racemosa / Tiliacora acuminata

Psidium guineense

Psidium guineense Swartz
Family: Myrtaceae

Synonyms: Campomanesia multiflora (Cambess.) O.Berg , Campomanesia tomentosa Kunth , Eugenia hauthalii (Kuntze) K.Schum. , Eugenia hauthalii (Kuntze) K. Sch. , Guajava albida (Cambess.) Kuntze , Guajava benthamiana (O.Berg) Kuntze , Guajava costa-ricensis (O.Berg) Kuntze , Guajava guineensis (Sw.) Kuntze , Guajava laurifolia (O.Berg) Kuntze , Guajava mollis (Bertol.) Kuntze , Guajava multiflora (Cambess.) Kuntze , Guajava ooidea (O.Berg) Kuntze , Guajava polycarpa (Lamb.) Kuntze , Guajava schiedeana (O.Berg) Kuntze , Guajava ypanemense (O. Berg) Kuntze , Guajava ypanemensis (O.Berg) Kuntze , Mosiera guineensis (Sw.) Bisse , Myrtus guineensis (Sw.) Kuntze , Myrtus hauthalii Kuntze , Psidium albidum Cambess. , Psidium araca Raddi , Psidium araca var. sampaionis Herter , Psidium benthamianum O.Berg , Psidium campicolum Barb.Rodr. , Psidium chrysobalanoides Standl. , Psidium costa-ricense O.Berg , Psidium dichotomum Weinm. , Psidium jollyanum A.Chev. , Psidium laurifolium O.Berg , Psidium lehmannii Diels , Psidium minus Mart. ex DC. [Invalid] , Psidium molle Bertol. , Psidium molle var. gracile O.Berg , Psidium molle var. robustum O.Berg , Psidium monticola O.Berg , Psidium monticola var. gracile O.Berg , Psidium monticola var. robustum O.Berg , Psidium multiflorum Cambess. , Psidium ooideum O.Berg , Psidium ooideum var. grandifolium O.Berg , Psidium ooideum var. intermedium O.Berg , Psidium ooideum var. longipedunculatum Rusby , Psidium ooideum var. parvifolium O.Berg , Psidium polycarpon Lamb. , Psidium popenoei Standl. , Psidium rotundifolium Standl. , Psidium rufinervum Barb.Rodr. , Psidium schiedeanum O.Berg , Psidium schippii Standl. , Psidium sericiflorum Benth. , Psidium ypanemense O.Berg,

Chinese name: 蒙自草胡椒

English Names :  Brazilian Guava, Castilian Guava, Guinea Guava, Güisara  Guava,  Guisaro  Sour  Guava,  Wild Guava

Description: Shrubs to small trees, branchlets terete, pubescent. Leaves subopposite or opposite, subcoriaceous, 8-10 cm, broadly elliptic-oblong, pellucid dotted, entire, pubescent beneath; lateral nerves 8-10 pairs, looping; petiole 1-1.5 cm long. Flowers slightly fragrant. Calyx tube adnate to the ovary, imperfectly 5- lobed, green, pubescent without. Petals 5, caducous, white, spathulate, 1.5 x 1 cm. Stamens c. 200, white; filaments 1-1.2 cm long; anthers oblong, 0.1- 0.5 cm long, introrse, dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary many- celled, ovules many in each locule; style 1.3 cm long, white, stigma capitate. Berry globose, 2-3 cm diameter, pubescent, yellow when ripe; seeds many, embedded in the creamy-yellow flesh.

Published articles of Psidium guineense Swartz.

Hot aqueous extract of  P. guineense  fruit perciarp  had  in-vitro  inhibitory  activity  against  Staphylococcus  aureus,  Escherichia  coli   and  Aspergillus  niger. Ethanol  extracts  from  the  peel  and  pulp  of   P. guineense  and its various factions exhibited antibacterial  activity  against   Streptococcus  mutans  strains. The antimicrobial activity of the  P. guineense  species may be  attributed  to  secondary  metabolites,  taninns, fl avonoids, terpenes and aldehydes present in the fruit.   Psidium  guineense   is  used  in  treating  diarrhoeas  in  Argentinean  traditional  medicine.  In  the  interior  of Brazil,  a  decoction  of  the  bark  or  roots  is employed  to  treat  urinary  diseases,  diarrhoea and dysentery and is considered to be diuretic.  In  Costa  Rica,  the  decoction  is  said  to  reduce varicose  veins  and  ulcers  on  the  legs.  A  leaf decoction  is  taken  to  relieve  colds  and bronchitis. [  Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants - Vol-3]

Fresh leaf essential oil: antiinflammatory and antibacterial activity. Fruit: free radical scavenging effect. Leaf essential oil. (Z)-nerolidol,
caryophyllene, β-selinene [ Medicinal flora of Argentina ]

USES:  Bark:  Bark  is  boiled,  and  the  water  drunk  as  an  anti-diarrheal  by  the  Guyana  Patamona. Leaf: Leaves are boiled, and the water drunk as a treatment for coughing or as an anti-diarrheal, by the Guyana Patamona. Fruit: Juice of the young fruit is squeezed and used as an anti-dysenteric or for “bad-belly”, by the Guyana Patamona. [Medicinal Plants of the Guianas (Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana) ]

27 Published articles of Psidium guineense

Peperomia heyneana

Peperomia heyneana Miq.
Family: Piperaceae
Chinese: 蒙自草胡椒

Description: Perennial herbs, 5 to about 15 cm tall, erect or ascending, the stems glabrous or thinly pubescent, striate when dry. Leaves alternate throughout or alternate in the lower half only and opposite or ternately whorled above, 0.5-2 x 0.5-1.5 cm, elliptic, narrowly elliptic or obovate, the lower leaves often nearly orbicular; tapering to an obtuse or acute base, obtuse, rounded, or faintly short acuminate and sometimes feebly emarginate at the apex; slightly fleshy, not wrinkled and rather pellucid when dry, faintly darker but hardly blackish when pressed, glabrous except at the midrib a more acute angle than the subsequent veins; petiole 3-7 mm long, of lower leaves up to 15 mm long, glabrous or puberulous. Spike solitary, terminal, 1.5-3.5 cm long, 0.7-1.5 mm in diameter, with glabrous axis; peduncle 0.5 -1.6 cm long, always shorter than the spike, glabrous or sparsely pubescent; bracts about 0.3 mm in diameter. Flowers half immersed. Ovary with a fleshy, oblique, subapical stigma. Fruit about 0.7 mm long, globose-ellipsoidal, minutely stipitate, finely verrucose, without a pesudocupule

2 Published articles of  Peperomia heyneana

Edgeworthia gardneri

Edgeworthia gardneri (Wall.) Meisn.
Family: Thymelaeaceae
Synonyms: Daphne gardneri Wall., Edgeworthia albiflora Nakai

Other names: Nepali Paper Bush, Indian Paper Tree
Bhutan: dekar
Nepal:  अर्गली Argal
Chinese: 山棉皮 , dian jie xiang, jie xiang, meng hua
Japanese: mitsumata

Desctiption: Trees small, to 3-4 m tall. Stem brownish red; branchlets glabrous or sparsely sericeous at apex. Petiole 4-8 mm, puberulous; leaf blade narrowly elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, 6-10 × 2.5-3.4 cm, both surfaces appressed pubescent, base cuneate, apex acute; lateral veins 8 or 9 pairs, conspicuous. Inflorescences terminal and axillary, capitate, 3.5-4 cm in diam., 30-50-flowered; peduncle pendulous, 2-2.5(-5) cm, white sericeous at anthesis, glabrescent; bracts caducous, leaflike, narrowly lanceolate. Calyx ca. 15 mm, exterior densely white sericeous; lobes 4, yellow adaxially, ovate, ca. 3.5 × 2.5 mm, abaxially densely sericeous, apex acute or rounded. Disk scale lacerate. Ovary ellipsoid, ca. 5 mm, uniformly densely grayish white sericeous; style pubescent, ca. 2 mm; stigma globose, ca. 3 mm. Drupe ovoid, densely sericeous. Fl. late winter and early spring, fr. summer. 

Juice  of  root  and  stem  used  for  eye  disorders.  Bark  and leaves as fish poison. [CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants]

8 Published articles of Edgeworthia gardneri

Philodendron bipinnatifidum, Split Leaf Philodendron

Philodendron bipinnatifidum Schott ex Endl.
Family: Araceae
Synonyms: Arum pinnatifidum Vell., Philodendron pygmaeum Chodat & Vischer, Philodendron selloum K.Koch, Sphincterostigma bipinnatifidum Schott

English: Split Leaf Philodendron
French: philodendron à feuilles bipinnatifides
Guarani: Guembe
Persian: فیلودندرون برگ انجیری
Portuguese: banana d'imbe
Russian: Филодендрон двоякоперистый
Finnish: Peikonkämmen

Description: The leaves are simple, large, deeply lobed, and are usually drooping. These can grow up to 1.5 meters long, and are attached to long, smooth petioles. They are a deep green color, and since these plants are grown in the tropics, there is no apparent color change that correlates with the fall season. The trunk of P. bipinnatifidum is relatively thick and woody with characteristic “eye-drop” leaf scars. Approximately 15–20 years is required for P. bipinnatifidum to grow to an appropriate size and produce flowers in an indoor environment where space is limited. The small, petalless flowers are on a spadix that is enclosed within a spathe. They are usually white or inflorescent.

Leaf: heal, hemostatic, for conjunctivitis. antiprotozoal activity
Rhizome resin: antinociceptive activity [ Medicinal flora of Argentina]

10 Published articles of Philodendron bipinnatifidum

Alpinia calcarata, Dumparastramu, Rasna, Sugandhamoola

Alpinia calcarata (Haw.) Roscoe
Family: Zingiberaceae

Telugu: Dumparastramu.
Asamese: Sugandhi bach
Chinese: 距花山姜
Hindi: कुलंजन Kulanjan
Kannada: Chikkadumparaasme
Oriya: Toroni
Sanskrit: Rasna, सुगंधमूल Sugandhamoola, Kulanjana
Malayalam: Chittaratha, Kolinchi,

Description: Leafy stem 1-1.5 m. Leaves sessile, lamina glabrous, 40-50 x 2-2.5 cm, linear-lanceolate, narrowed towards the base, tip acuminate, margin with short bristles placed 1-2 mm apart; ligule membranous, c. 1 cm long, tip shortly bifid, margin ciliate. Inflorescence terminal, 10-15 cm long, densely paniculate, lower cincinni 4-flowered, upper 2-flowered; peduncle densely pubescent. Bracts minute, c. 1 mm long, triangular, pubescent, deciduous. Bracteoles membranous, splitting to the base, 1-1.5 x 0.7-0.8 cm, ovate, minutely pubescent outside, glabrous within, deciduous. Flowers shortly pedicellate; pedicel densely pubescent. Calyx tubular, 0.8-1 cm long, sparsely pubescent. Corolla tube almost equal to the calyx, pubescent, lobes oblong, pubescent outside; dorsal lobe 1.5-1.8 x 0.6-0.8 cm; lateral lobes c. 1.5 x 0.5 cm. Labellum obovate, 3 cm long, 1.5-1.8 cm wide in the lower half, tip emarginate, variegated with dark purple and yellow, glabrous. Lateral staminodes small, subulate, at the base of the labellum. Stamen 2 cm long, shorter than the labellum, anther 8 mm long, thecae parallel, pubescent, ecrestate; style slightly projected above the anther; stigma rounded with ciliate opening. Epigynous glands two, 3 mm long, thick, free from each other. Ovary 4 x 3 mm, densely pubescent, trilocular with many ovules. Fruit globose, 2-2.5 x 1.5 cm, pubescent, orange-red. Seeds many.

Uses in Ayurveda:  Rhizome  antiinflammatory,  antinociceptive, antirheumatic, to cure cardiac diseases, cold, to treat throat inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, diseases of  nervous  system,  stimulating  digestion,  purifying  blood, and  also  to  adulterate  sugandha.  Dried  powdered  rhizome stimulant, febrifuge and carminative, for rheumatism, bronchial catarrh. [CRC World Dictionary of MEDICINAL AND POISONOUS PLANTS]

Alpinia calcarata rhibozomes are claimed to possess a strong and safe oral aphrodisiac activity. [Ethnomedicinal
Plants Revitalization of Traditional Knowledge of Herbs]

 A decoction  of  the  rhizome of  this plant  is given for  rheumatism.  It  is also used  as  a  fomentation  on  rheumatic joints. [MEDICINAL PLANTS (Indigenous and Exotic)  Used in Ceylon PART V ]

44 Published articles of Alpinia calcarata

Diospyros malabarica, Tinduka, Gaab

Diospyros malabarica (Desr.) Kostel.
Family: Ebenaceae
Synonyms: Diospyros biflora Blanco Diospyros citrifolia Wall, ex A. DC., Diospyros embryopteris Pers , Diospyros gtutinifera (Roxb.) Wall., Diospyros glutinosa J.Koenig ex Roxb., Diospyros matabarica var. siamensis (Hochr.) Phengklai Diospyros peregrina (Gaertn.) GCirke Diospyros peregrina f. javanica Kosterm., Diospyros siamensis Hochr., Embryopteris gelatinifera G.Don Embryopteris glutinifera Roxb., Embryopteris glutinifolia Link Embryopteris peregrina Gaertn.

English: Gaub, Indian persimmon
Arabic: دايوسبيرس امبريوبترس
Bengali: দেশি গাব
Hindi: गाब ( Gaab )
Tamil: தும்பிகா ( Tumbika )
Marathi: Temburi
Malaya:   komoi, kumun
Malayalam: Panancca, പനച്ചി
Telugu: Bandadamara
Kannada: Holitupare
Sanskrit: तिन्दुक (Tinduka)
Sinhala: Thimbiri
Japanese: ベンガルガキ
Thai: มะพลับ

Ayurvedic Uses:  Fruits and bark used in diarrhea, ulcers, wounds; seed oil in dysentery. Root paste applied on scorpion sting. Veterinary medicine, stem bark decoction mixed with buttermilk given to check diarrhea of goat.

Ethnic communities of Madhya Pradesh, and some ancient Sanskrit works recommend the use of fruits mainly for the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery and some skin diseases.  Later Ayurvedic works recommend aqueous extract of green fruit  in  menorrhagia. [HERBAL CURES: TRADITIONAL APPROACH]

The fruits are used to treat diarrhea and dysentery. The medicinal properties ascribed to it by the Chinese are somewhat remarkable. It is said to break fever, to be an antidote for snake poisoning, and to be demulcent. An extract of the fruit has been used as a vaginal injection in gonorrhea. A dark oil prepared from the fruit makes an excellent varnish for paper umbrellas and fans. In Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, the juice of the fruit is used to heal sores and wounds. The medicinal properties are most likely owed to tannins. [Medicinal Plants  of Asia  and the Pacific]

5 Published articles of Diospyros malabarica

Globba schomburgkii

Globba schomburgkii Hook.f.
Family: Zingiberaceae
Common name: Dancing Girl Ginger
Chinese: 双翅舞花姜

Plants 30-60 cm tall, rhizome conical, small, 1 x 0.5 cm, light yellowish to grey inside, with many white, fusiform root tubers 4 x 0.5 cm in size; roots many, thick, fleshy; stem slender, fleshy, slightly swollen near the rhizome; lower vegetative bracts purple, lower one third fused and upper two third open; solitary bulbils at each node, opposite to the attachment of the leaves. Leaves 6-8, upper surface glabrous, lower surface minutely pubescent; upper leaves larger, green, 15-20 x 4-5 cm, oblong lanceolate, tip acuminate, shortly petioled, 0.4 cm, ligulate, ligule short, membraneous 0.2 cm, tripartite, minutely pubescent. Lower leaves smaller, ovate, 3 x 2 cm, upper surface green, lower surface purple. Inflorescence terminal, 8-10 cm, decurved, peduncle slender, green, short, bracts many, lax, spreading, persistent, glabrous; lower bracts green, large, ca 1 x 0.8 cm, broadly ovate, smaller towards the apex, each subtending on or more spherical bulbils; upper bracts fertile, smaller, ca 0.6 x 0.6 cm; ovate, light orange, turning to light green when mature, each bract subtends a cincinni of 4-5 flowers of small stalks, the lower ones 1. cm long to the first flower, bearing a succession of 4-5 flowers in two ranks on very short pedicels, altogether 3-4 cm long. Secondary bracts 0.3-0.6 x 0.2-0.4 cm, orange. Calyx truncate, 0.4-0.6cm, shortly 3 lobed, lobes unequal, orange yellow glabrous. Corolla tube longer than the calyx, 1.5 cm long, hairy, recurved, orange, lobes ovate, cup shaped, 0.4 cm, glabrous. Staminodes longer than the corolla lobes, 1.2 x 0.3 cm, tip slightly curved upwards, orange, glabrous. Lip 1. 0.4 cm, triangular glabrous, with divergent lobes, which hardly reach the attachment of the petals, orange, with a reddish patch at the centre. Filaments 2.5 cm long, upcurved, anther small, the pollen sacs parallel bearing two spreading and somewhat divergent, narrowly triangular appendages on each side. Ovary 0.2 cm, rugose, unilocular with 3 parietal placentae, several ovules on each placenta; style long filiform, stigma cup shaped, slightly exerted from the anther lobes. Epigynous gland one, linear 0.3 cm long. Fruiting rare, rugose. 

2 Published articles of Globba schomburgkii

Roscoea purpurea, Kakoli, Musli

Roscoea purpurea Sm.
Family: Zingiberaceae
Common name: Roscoe's Lily Purple
Sanskrit: Kakoli, Musli
Uses: Root  antiseptic,  astringent,  tonic,  powdered  mixed  with black  pepper  applied  on  boils  for  suppuration  and  quick healing. [CRC World Dictionary of MEDICINAL AND POISONOUS PLANTS]


Published articles of Roscoea purpurea