Country-mallow

Country-mallow is also known as Snake mallow, flannelweed, Heartleaf Fanpetals, Long-stalk Sida, Heart-Leaf Sida etc. it is called Bananiyar, Faridbuti, Bhyunli and bhuinii in Hindi , Bhumi petari, Bhuinchikna, Bhoybal in Marathi, Junka in Bengali, Kurunthotti, Palampasi, Mayirmanikkam in Tamil, Vallikkuruntotti, Kuruntotti, Nela-Vaga in Malayalam, Benda, Gayapaku, Tirunala in Telugu, Bekkinathale Gida in Kannada, Bhoybala in Gujarati , Bhumibala, Nagabala, Rajbala, Gangeruki, Visvadeva, Jhasna, Kharagandhika, Khanda, Hrasva Gavedhuka in Sanskrit. In Oriya we call it Bisiripi.

 

Its Botanical name is Sida Cordata (also Melochia cordata, Sida humilis, Sida veronicifolia). The generic name Sida Cordta is derived from Greek word Sida which means a species of water lily. Cordata means heart shaped. The leaves of the plant have obviously that shape.

It’s a common weed found everywhere in tropical countries. It is found throughout India in roadsides and wastelands.

It’s a non-woody hairy herb with slender trailing branches, sparingly hispid, frequently procumbent and sometimes rooting at nodes. The stem, petioles & pedicles of the plant are hairy. The leaves are long petioled, ovate to cordate, acuminate, and serrate with alternate and short teeth. The flowers are pale yellow, usually solitary or borne in pairs or in small cymes, found in axils. Fruits are schizocarp located within the persistent calyx. The Seeds are brownish and sub-globose and 3.5 to 3.8 mm. in diameter. It is a perennial plant. It flowers and fruits throughout the year.

  

The whole plant has great medicinal value. The roots taste sweet, sour, bitter and acrid. It is astringent, stomachic, febrifuge, thermogenic and tonic. It’s a good medicine for treatment in uropathy. So it is diuretic. The juice of the whole plant is used in retention of urine, urinary infection, dysuria, and spermatorrhoea. The bark of the root is used for treatment of leucorrhoea, gonorrhea and hyperdiuresis. It has haemostatic, analgesic and wound healing properties. The leaf paste is applied as a poultice to cuts and bruises. Paste of either root or leaves is used in bleeding disorders and wounds. It is applied in elephantiasis also. The flowers and unripe fruits are refrigerant, it is mixed with sugar and is given to relieve burning sensation. This mixture is also used to treat micnutrition. The leaves are known as demulcent and are used in opthalmia. Seeds are considered as laxative and are recommended in crysittiscolic tenseness and piles. The plant is useful in acidity, peptic disorder, constipation, relieves flatulence and heartburn.The whole plant is used in treatment of skin troubles, rheumatism, asthma, cough, bronchitis, and diarrhoea. The decoction of the entire plant is given to prevent joint swellings in arthritis. Being a nervine and brain tonic, it is useful in treatment of loss of memory, general debility and muscle wasting. It is also used to convalesce from post- abortion weakness. It acts as an aphrodisiac and used in loss of libido. It has nourishing and rejuvenating properties. It used in neuromuscular disorders with loss of function and weakness. It is especially used in chronic respiratory disorders where it helps eliminating accumulated mucus, promotes healing and restores the strength. It cures dyspnoea, tuberculosis and hoarseness of voice.

  

 

How wonderful it is! Just think. It seems such a small and seemingly insignificant weed with tiny flowers which grows in wasteland. But see how potent it is with such great medicinal value. That’s called the magic of nature and handiwork of the lord.

 

Passion Flower

Etymology and Names of Passion flower(Passiflora)

Passion Flower is also called Passiflorina, Passion Vine, Maypop, Flower of the Five Wounds, Water Lemon, Apricot vine, Passionaria, Passionblume. It is called Jhumkalata and Ghari bel in Hindi, Krishna Kamala in Marathi, Jhumkalata in Bengali, Radhika nachom in Manipuri, Tella Jumiki in Telugu, Kukki Belli and Krishna Kamala in Kannada, Cirran cantia in Malayalam, and sirupoonaikali in Tamil. In Oriya we call it Radha Tamala and in some areas panchu pandab.

Passiflora Soi Fah

Passion flower is a genus of over 530 species of flowering plants. Its botanical name is Passiflora(family-Passifloraceae).

Passion flower vine produces very beautiful white flowers with purple, blue, or pink calyx crown blooms. The blooming period is from May to July but it flowers almost all the year round.  It is a perennial climber with a woody stem that grows to a length of nearly 15–20 m height where support is available. The leaves are alternate, palmately five-lobed 10–18 cm long and wide. The flower is complex, about 10 cm diameter, with the five sepals and petals similar in appearance, whitish in colour, surmounted by a corona of blue or violet filaments, then five greenish-yellow stamens and three purple stigmas. The fruit is a smooth, yellow, ovate berry containing numerous seeds. Passionflower is very easy to propagate through root division or by seed. A lattice or fence could be provided near it for good growth, since it is a climbing vine with tendrils seeking a support.

 It’s said that passionflower got its name because its corona resembles the crown of thorns worn by Jesus Christ during the crucifixion. It symbolizes Christ's suffering on the cross. It is more commonly known as the crown of thorns. I have often heard in my area that this flower resembles a rakhi which is worn on the wrist of every brother on Rakshya Bandhan festival all over India as the symbol of a sister’s love for her brother. It’s one of my favourite flowers. Its colour, fragrance, shape, the vine, the leaves; everything about it is simply unique and magically beautiful.

Passiflora Foetida

Some species produce small berry-like fruit called granadilla or water lemon. The aerial parts of the plant are gathered during fruiting season and then dried for future processing.

The fruits of Passiflora Foetida or 

Wild watermelons 

Buds of passion flower

Passiflora Lady Margaret

Traditional medicine and uses of Passion flower

The leaves, stems, and flowers are used for medicinal purposes. Passion plant is anodyne, antispasmodic, anxiolytic, aphrodisiac, aromatic, narcotic and sedative. Passion Flower is a Natural Tranquilizer. It reduces spasms and depresses the central nervous system.

It is commonly used for pain relief, as a sedative, hypnotic, antispasmodic, neuralgia (pain along a nerve), diarrhea, dysentery, generalized seizures, nervous tachycardia (abnormally high heart rate), spasmodic asthma, epilepsy, and other conditions of hyperactivity, as well as high blood pressure, hysteria, nervous agitation, dysmennorhea (painful menstruation), and hemorrhoids.

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) was used traditionally in the Americas and later in Europe as a calming herb for anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and hysteria. It is still used today to treat anxiety and insomnia. A decoction of passion flower has been successfully used in bronchial asthma. It has been used in Europe and America as a healing for burns; extract of the herb have a marked effect on inflammations. Early research indicated that an extract of passion flower was effective against the disturbance of menopause.

Still larger doses of passion flower extract causes hallucinations, convulsions, and vomiting. Oral doses of 250-350 mg will produce distinct psychotic symptoms, full of hallucinations, followed by pronounced central nervous system depression. Hence, passion flower is sometimes used as a mild hallucinogen. The ancient Aztecs reportedly used passionflower as a sedative and pain reliever. But unlike other sedatives passionflower is non-addictive. Passion Flower Tea benefits have been recognized for over 200 years by the Native Americans as effective in sedating and calming the nerves. The parts of the plant (flowers, leaves, and stems) are used for medicinal purposes. Passion Flower may reduce chemical reactions that cause nausea and vomiting as a result of withdrawal from drugs like cocaine, heroin etc., and this may prove useful as a support for those patients trying to withdraw from such dangerous addictives.

Passionflower Herbal Tea Recipe

1. Boil 1 cup(include stems)  water for 10 minutes.
2.  Put about 1 tsp. of dried herb into it.;
3.  Strain and cool the extract.
4.  For anxiety, during the day drink 3 - 4 cups per day.
5.  For insomnia, drink 1 cup an hour before going to bed.

Passionflower is generally considered to be nontoxic when used in moderation. Many herbalists prescribe 3 to 4 cups a day without any problems reported. But passionflower extracts should never be given to anybody who is already under medication for anxiety or depression for it could lead to excessive sleepiness. Also remember that blue passionflower or Passiflora caerulea, should not be used, as it does not have the same activity. Passionflower should not be given to pregnant or lactating mothers.

N.B. All the above is solely for informational purpose and NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE ANY KIND OF MEDICAL ADVICE. A REGD. AYURVEDIC/MEDICAL PRACTITIONER SHOULD ALWAYS BE CONSULTED FOR IT.

Krishna tamala

The leaves of passion vine

Kurubaka

Barleria or Philippine Violet, Bluebell Barleria, Crested Philippine Violet,Ganges primrose is called kala bansa, Patro, Tadrelu in Hindi, Jhinti, Swetjhanti in Bengali, Jhinili in Assamese, Gokran, Koranti, Nilakoranta in Marathi, Jhante, Kinkiraatha, Mullu Gorate, Patikada Hoo, Sphatika in Kannada, Karimkurunniin Malayalam, Kattukkanagambaram, Mulkanagambaram, Vellai Nilambaram Semmulli, Uta Mulli in Tamil, December Puvvulu, Kodikannu, Neerugoranta, Thellaneelambari in Telugu, Artagala, Swetapuspa, Nasi,Batasarika,Kurantaka, Kuravaka, Sahaacara, in Sanskrit. Actually all the 4 varieties are called differently in Sanskrit. Yellow Barleria is called Kuruntaka, Saireyaka and Vajaradanti . Pink one is called Kurubaka, Blue Barleria is called Bana and blue-lilac one is called Dasi and Artagala. White Barleria is called Dev Karonti. In my mother tongue Oriya we call it Das Kerenta.

Its botanical name is Barleria cristata L.(Blue), Barleria prionitis Linn.(Yellow),Barleria Grandiflora (White).

 

Barleria is a perennial, ornamental plant which is found abundantly in India and Myanmar. Barleria cristata is a carefree shrub that blooms in both spring and fall. This is an easy-to-grow shrub, about 3ft height, which can be used for a garden hedge or tightly clipped into geometrical shapes. It grows up to 1 to 3 meters high. The branches are sparingly hairy. Leaves are oblong to elliptic, 4-10 cm long, pointed at the tip and hairy beneath. The leaves are dark green on the upper surface and pale green on the lower surface. They are elliptic to narrowly ovate. Flowers are borne singly or in pairs, and terminal in the upper axils of the leaves. The flowers are about 5 cm long, funnel-shaped in violet, pink, or white color. The fruits are about 1.5 cm long ellipsoid capsules. They become glabrous and glossy at maturity. Its blooming time is November and continues into mid-December. Barleria involucrata is similar to B. cristata except that both leaves and blooms are larger and the flower color is blue-lilac. But the yellow Barleria often grows wild in waste lands. It is a very important plant in Ayurveda. In Hindi it is called Vajradanti, Katsaraiya, Piyabansa. Barleria is easily propagated from cuttings planted in fall directly in the ground.

Barleria is Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant. It has anti- diabetic properties. An extract of Barleria leaves is used in traditional medicines for the treatment of anemia, toothache, and inflammation. Scientific studies have confirmed that it has strong anti-inflammatory properties. The leaves of the plant have germicidal properties. They are used in beauty preparations and shampoos. The plant is used for relieving fever and joint pain. The leaves and roots used in coughs and inflammations. Seeds used as antidote for snake bites. The herb Yellow Barleria is considered Vajradanti and is described in ancient Ayurvedic literature. Its twigs and leaves are chewed to maintain dental hygiene and to guard them against decay. If you take a few leaves of this plant and ground it to a rough paste and out it as a bandage to any fresh wound it heals quickly. Before putting the bandage if you heat it slightly in fire then it works better. In the morning if 1 table spoon juice of the leaves mixed with misri or rock sugar powder is taken for a few days it cures intestinal worms, cough, itching of skin and even leprosy. When the whole plant is dried and powdered and ½ tsp. of is taken with warm water it alleviates gastroenterological disorders.

I have known another interesting thing about this plant but in fact I have never tried it. If a small figurine is made out of the paste of its leaves mixed with turmeric and kept in one corner of a room, it repels all mosquitoes.

This flower always reminds me of a beautiful portion of the Drama ‘Abhigyana Shakuntalam’ by the greatest Sanskrit Poet Kalidasa. When Shakuntala the beautiful daughter of Rishi Kanwa meets Dushyanta, the King of Hastina, soon it results in love at first sight between the two. Before leaving the spot with her friends she feigns that the prick of a Kurubaka plant hurt her sole and she bends down under the pretext of taking out the prick to steal a glance at her beloved. This drama is one immortal creation in Sanskrit literature.

Plumeria

Etymology and Names of Plumeria or katha champa

Plumeria or Frangipani is called Gulchin and Golenchi in Hindi, Kathgolop in Bengali, Champha in Marathi, Khagi-leihao-angouba in Manipuri, Nela sampangi in Tamil, Chaempae in Konkani. In Oriya we call it Katha Champa. Some of the popular names of this tree are Temple Tree or Pagoda Tree in India and the Far East, Graveyard Tree in the Caribbean Islands, Temple Flower in Sri Lanka. The Plumeria is the national tree of Laos, where it is called dok jampa. It’s no doubt the most popular flower in the tropics and almost its floral symbol.

plumeria

Its botanical name is Plumeria. Plumeria has got its generic name from Charles Plumier, a 17th Century French botanist who discovered the tree. And the other name frangipani has come from the Italian perfumer named Marquis Frangipani in the 16th century even before the plant was discovered. White Plumeria is called Plumeria Alba and Red variety is known as Plumeria Rubra (variation Plumeria Acutifolia).

Plumerias are grows up to 10 m in height. The bark is grayish green and scaly in appearance. The scaling is formed when leaves drop in winter leaving small semi-circular marks on the bark. The branches have a swollen appearance and the leaves, dark green on the top and a lighter shade of green underneath, cluster at the tips of branches. A cut made on any part of the tree will exude a milky, sticky sap that is poisonous to both humans and animals. Leaves tend to fall in early winter since they are deciduous and sensitive to cold. Plumerias have been widely hybridized and there are many cultivars presently available. Each is with its own unique flower and fragrance. There are plumeria flowers that smell like grapes, coconut, ginger, and spices. One cultivar named 'Vera Cruz Rose' has the fragrance of rose. Plumeria is an extremely durable plant in that it can be grown in colder climates, as a potted plant. Colors of the flower range from white, pink, yellow, multiple pastels to deep red. Some varieties produce smaller flowers than others. Its Flowering lasts up to three months at a time. Plumerias can tolerate a wide range of climate conditions and are one of the easiest plants to grow from a cutting.

 

Plumeria is aphrodisiac, sedative, astringent, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant. Another common use of plumeria is as a fragrance for perfumes, soaps, lotions, and candles. Plumeria is widely used in aromatherapy. Plumeria oil is used to lift the spirits and soothe emotional wounds. It does not dry the skin when added to lotions or massage oils. An extract of the bark of Plumeria acutifolia was discovered to have antimutagenic properties. The leaf extract of Plumeria rubra is antibacterial while its bark extract proved cytotoxic to certain human cancers. But always consult a doctor before taking it in any form because some varieties can be extremely toxic. Drop some fresh plumeria flowers in to your bath tub and enjoy the fragrant water. It will be turned into your home spa.

red plumeria flower.

 

Plumeria Essential Oil is an exotic essential oil and an "absolute". As such, it is highly sort after, in spite of being quite an expensive essential oil. It is renowned for its aromatic qualities of soothing, relaxing, and toning. The oil is said to have a calming influence on those suffering from fear, anxiety, insomnia or tremors, according to the principles of Ayurveda. In Vietnam the Plumeria is used for its healing qualities: the bark, mashed in alcohol, prevents skin inflammation. It is also used to treat indigestion and high blood pressure, while the roots have purgative effects on animals and the milk-like sap serves as a balm for skin diseases. The white flowers are used in traditional medicine to cure high blood pressure, haemophilia, cough, dysentery and fever.

It is regarded as a sacred tree in Vietnam and every Buddhist temple in that country has them planted in their courtyards. The Plumeria is the flower of the city of Palermo in Sicily.  In Italy and Nicaragua they have given it a place in their bank notes. Plumeria flowers are held sacred in Bali, India and other tropical countries. They are used in religious ceremonies. Plumeria trees are often planted near temples and graves.

They symbolize the immortality of the soul.

N.B. 👉 All the above is solely for informational purpose and NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE ANY KIND OF MEDICAL ADVICE. A REGD. AYURVEDIC/MEDICAL PRACTITIONER SHOULD ALWAYS BE CONSULTED FOR IT.

plumeria 

Kassod

Cassia siamea or Senna siamea is also called Siamese Senna, Black-Wood Cassia, Bombay Blackwood, Cassia, Iron Wood, Kassod Tree, Thai Copper, Thai Cassia, and Thailand Shower Pod. It is called Seemia and Kassod in Hindi, Kassod in Marathi, Sima tangedu, Hiretangedi,  Motovolanyaro in Kannada , Manjal konrai, Manje-konne, Beati ,Vakai and Chelumalarkkonrai  in Tamil Manjakonna, Manjakonnei  in Malayalam, Nela thangedu, Sima tangedu, Kurumbi in Telugu. In Oriya we call it Chakunda.

 

Its botanical name is Cassia siamea (also Cassia florida Vahl, Cassia siamea Lamk. Senna sumatrana Roxb).

C. siamea is native to south and Southeast Asia. It is a medium sized fast-growing perennial tree which rarely exceeds 20 mtrs. in height, with a straight trunk around 30 cm in diameter, with numerous foliage, large spires of yellow blooms, which are followed, in a couple of months, by a crown of red-brown pods. It has a crooked stems, the Bark is gray or light brown, smooth, becoming slightly fissured. Inner bark is light, brown and gritty. The sapwood is light brown and the heartwood dark brown. The wood is heavy and hard. The twigs are greenish and minutely hairy when young, gradually turning brown. Its young branches have fine hairs. The leaves are pinnately compound with an even leaf arrangement of 7-10 pairs of elliptic leaflets 7-8 cm long and 1-2 cm wide. The tree has a dense crown and bears large, attractive bunches of yellow flowers. Its blooming period is July to October. It starts flowering and fruiting at the age of 2-3 years. The fruit is a flat pod 15-25 cm long, thickened at both sutures, containing many beanlike seeds. Once matured, it flowers richly throughout the year. It is normally propagated by seed, and plantations are often established by direct sowing. The tree needs very low maintenance.

The herb has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Kassod has also got medicinal properties which are mentioned in Ayurveda. The fruit is used for treatment intestinal worms  in children. The heartwood  is used for scabies & rhinitis. Cassia siamea has been evaluated for its potent anti-oxidant activity. The evaluation of the results showed the C. siamea flowers extracts exhibited very potent anti-oxidant action and helped to prevent cell damage due to free radicals and lowers the risks of colorectal cancer. It also prevents oxidative damage to the liver. Whole plant of Cassia Seimia is anti-diabetic.

Young leaves, young fruits and young flowers of C. siamea are popularly used as a vegetable in Sri Lanka and Thailand. The curry promotes sleeping- aid and is also a mild laxative. During preparation the cooking liquid is replaced 3 times to remove bitterness and toxins. The water is then discarded and the boiled leaves are mixed with coconut milk and curry paste and cooked as a curry which is consumed with cooked rice as a food.

C. siamea is widely grown for fodder. The secondary plant compounds in the leaves, flowers and pods are highly toxic to non-ruminants, such as pigs and poultry, as pigs savor the poisonous leaves they should be kept away from these trees. The dense, dark-coloured wood of C. siamea makes good fuel, but the wood produces a lot of smoke. The wood was formerly used for locomotive engines. Its charcoal is also of excellent quality. C. siamea yields a medium-weight to heavy hardwood. The wood is hard to very hard, resistant to termites, strong, durable, and difficult to work, with a tendency to pick up in planing and it takes a high polish. The dark heartwood of C. siamea, which is often nicely figured, is used for joinery, cabinet making, inlaying. The wood has been used for poles, posts, bridges, Boat building (general), Carvings, Charcoal , Musical instruments, Particleboard, Poles, Pulp/Paper products, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, , Veneer  decorative, Walking sticks, mine poles, beams, construction, timber, furniture, inlays and fuel wood. All parts of the plant can be used for tanning.  The tree has many other uses. It is used extensively for rehabilitation of degraded lands. Its leaves are high in nitrogen content & great as organic manure which provides very useful mulch. Due to its extensive root system, it effectively increases topsoil infiltration, reduces runoff & combats soil erosion. Hence it is widely used as hedgerows, shelterbelts and banks. C. Siamea is grown as a shade tree along roads and in cocoa, coffee and tea plantations.  C. siamea is often planted as an ornamental for its abundant yellow flowers.

Morning Glory

Morning glory is also called Japanese morning glory , Picotee morning glory ,Blue morning glory, Blue Bell, Ivy morning glory, Indian Jalap and White-edge morning glory. Morning glory is called Kaladana, Neelkalmi , Godhani, Gheta, Jharmaric and Mirchai in Hindi, Kaladana, Nilkalami in Bengali, Kaladana, Neelpushpi and Neelbel in Marathi, Kala Dana, Mak, Kalaeona and Kalokumpo in Gujarati, Mirchaí , Phaprúság, Bildi in Punjabi, Nil Kalmou in Assamese, Gowri Beeja, Kolli Beeja Chita Bogari and Musukina Bogari in Kannada, Taliyari in Malayalam, Jiriki, Kollivittulu in Telugu, Kakkattan, Jikiri, Jirkivirai, Kodikakkatanvirai, Kattu Talai and Jigiri Vidai in Tamil, Hub-bun-Nil in Urdu. In Sanskrit it is called Kalanjani, Krishnabijah, Kalanjanika, Shyamabija and shyamalabijaka. In Oriya we call it khami Khondo. Its botanical name is Ipomoea nil.

Ipomoea Nil or Morning Glory is an annual, perennial vine that grows over hedges and bushes. Vines range from three to six feet in length and may reach up to a maximum of eight feet. The leaves are simple three-pointed and 3 to 8 centimeters long, alternate, ovate, cordate, more often 3-lobed, lobes are ovate -acuminate, sparsely hairy; the flowers are showy, funnel shaped, blue, tinged with pink, turning to red on aging. Most morning glory flowers curl up and close during the warm parts of the day, and are fully open in the morning. On a overcast day, the flower may last until night. The flowers usually start to fade a couple of hours before the petals start showing visible curling. The fruits are ovoid smooth capsules 1 cm in diameter; seeds are black, 4-5 in numbers and are nearly triangle shaped. Its flowering and fruiting time is September-November. The vines require support, full sun and humus rich soil. It is propagated by spring seed or summer cuttings. In India they are found throughout the country in wastelands. It is native to most of the tropical world and it has been introduced widely. It is cultivated as an attractive ornamental plant in many places because of their fast growth, twining habit, attractive flowers, and tolerance for poor, dry soils. Some morning glories are excellent vines for creating summer shade on building walls when trellised, thus keeping the building cooler and reducing heating and cooling costs. It is one of the most popular ornamental plants in Japan where it is called asagao means "morning face".  There are about 500 species of Ipomoea found in the Convolvulaceae family of plants.

 

Its most common use in Ayurveda is as a laxative. kaladana seeds give rise to a remedy for constipation.  The seed from which it has got its name kaladana or Krishnabija (or black seeds) is the most important part used as the medicine. The seed is acrid, anthelmintic, anticholinergic, antifungal, antispasmodic, hypotensive, antibacterial, antitumour, cathartic, diuretic and laxative. It is used in the treatment of oedema, oliguria, ascariasis and constipation. The seed contains small quantities of the hallucinogen LSD. This is used for treatment of various mental disorders. The seeds are also psychotropic, analgesic, and have uterus and intestine-stimulating properties. In Ayurveda it is used to treat gout, Arthralgia, bronchitis, scabies in all sorts of hepatic disorders, enlarged spleen, Leucoderma, fever, dyspepsia, paralysis etc.The plant extract is hypoglycemic. The seeds must be chewed or ground in order to be effective. Soaking the ground seeds in water for several hours, filtering out the grounds, and then drinking only the water portion of the mixture can reduce some of the stomach-upset symptoms if such occur. The Plant pacifies inflammations, intestinal worms, skin diseases, flatulence, bronchitis, joint pain, headache and fever. In traditional Chinese medicine the herb is used to cure edema, constipation, indigestion and kills worms. The Plant juice destroys bedbugs.

The Seeds from which the name Kaladana is derived