White Crinum Lily- The Pristine beauty

Now it is rainy season here in my area (Orissa). These flowers have very sweet and mild fragrance. They bloom in rain. They bloom just in the evening like Four o'Clock flowers. Our front yard pavement sides are filled with their fragrance in the evening. Can anyone tell its name?



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Ok! Let me tell you all about this pristine beauty. It's white Crinum Lily.Crinum Lily is also known as Poison Lily, Seashore Lily, Grand crinum lily, Poison Bulb, Giant Crinum Lily, Spider Lily. In Hindi it is called Nagadamini and Sudarsana. In Oriya we call it just Lily.

My father with a couple of Crinum Lily in our premises

I asked my father who is quite a living repository of knowledge of herbs and plants and quite a good gardener. He told me that it is banua Lily means wild lily. Its botanical name is Crinum asiaticum.

Crinum is a genus of about 180 species of perennial plants. The genus name Crinum originates from the Greek word Krinon, which means white lily, referring to the white or whitish flowers which most species produce. They are found in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. Crinum Lily is a fast growing, large perennial herb. It grows from a bulb. The flowers are shaped like tubes that open into a crown of narrow petals. The flowers are white and are arranged in clusters on the top of thick, succulent stems. The thick flower stalks emerge from the bases of the plants. There is usually only one 2-3 foot stalk per plant. At the end of each stalk, a cluster of flower buds form which opens into a cluster of mild but very sweet fragrant flowers. It prefers bright sunlight but will grow in part shade also, it needs average watering. Crinum lilies do well in dry soils and are fairly drought tolerant. Plant these in pots or better directly in the garden soil where they will quickly root to form new plants. It is grown as an exotic ornamental plant for its attractive form and flowers.

The plant is not edible and is poisonous. All parts of crinum lily may cause severe discomfort if swallowed. The sap of the plant can cause skin irritation. But it has traditional medicinal uses like poultice for sores, chaps or aches in any part of the body.  Paste of mashed leaves are used for treatment of piles. A mixture of leaf paste and honey is often applied to wounds .  

Globe Amaranth

Globe Amaranth is also known as Gomphrena and Bachelor’s buttons. It is called Gul-e-makhmal in Hindi and Urdu, Chengkruk in Manipuri, Vadamalli in Malayalam. In Oriya we call it Godi  Manika.  Its Botanical name is Gomphrena globosa.    

 

 

Globe Amaranth is a tropical annual flower with small, pinecone-shaped, delicate flowers. It is an all-time flower-gardening favourite. It is one of the most useful blossoms around.  It seems to have it all, it thrives in all conditions, it blooms nearly nonstop, great for cutting and drying, and it attracts butterflies. It can grow up to two feet with newer, smaller varieties that has a bushy appearance. The branched stems are erect and stiff. The leaves are opposite, oblong, 4-6 in long, and woolly-white when young, becoming sparsely white-hairy as they age. Flowers are globular in shape, but actually consist of numerous individual flowers. The flowers are about an inch in diameter and have a wide variety of colour range like purple, magenta, crimson red, pale mauve, off-white and even golden hue.  But the most common colour found is magenta. Globe amaranth tolerates poor soil. Average to fertile garden soil is fine. Plant requires full sun and excellent drainage. It’s a very long lasting plant. That’s why in some cultures and beliefs it is regarded as a symbol of unfading love.

These plants are not only loved for their ornamental applications, but also for their use as a food source, dye and medicine. Some varieties of amaranth are grown for their seeds which are a very palatable, easy to cook, high protein food having a pleasant taste. Some varieties of amaranth are grown for their edible greens leaves.

Champak

Champak or Golden Champa is called Atigandhaka, Bhringmohi, Champaka, Hemanga, Hemapuspaka, Deepapushpa in Sanskrit, Champa in Hindi and Bengali, Amariyam in Tamil, Kendasampige in Kannada, Chembakam in Malayalam, Campangi in Telugu and Sonchampa in Marathi. In Oriya we call it Champa too. Its Botanical Name is (Magnolia) Michelia champaca.

It’s a tall, evergreen tree, usually up to 30 m high. Leaves are ovate to lanceolate, coriaceous. The flowers are yellow or orange, wonderfully fragrant, solitary; Fruits are 5-10 cm long, ripe capsules ovoid or ellipsoid, with woody valves. Champak tree bears large numbers of small cream yellow and orange yellow blooms over a long period. The trees bloom once during the monsoon and again in spring. When fully in bloom, the trees are covered with thousands of golden yellow flowers which reigns the air all around with a powerful and diffusive fragrance.

It’s a member of the magnolia family and a native of the temperate Himalayan region. However, it is now found distributed throughout tropical and subtropical Asia. In India the flowers are collected for perfumery, decorative, ornamental, religious purpose.

The flowers from this tree are used to make the world famous most expensive perfume 'Joy'(Jean Patou 1935). Champak absolute blends well with most oils. The floral extracts are also used for aromatherapy and for meditation; its uses are similar to that of Ylang Ylang. This beautiful, heavenly scented flower is used often in worship. The tree is often found in temple precincts in India.

Planting a Champak or Michelia tree either indoors or in backyard really makes your home and the whole atmosphere always scented and peaceful. Michelia, the name has been given after the Florentine botanist Pietro Antonio Micheli (1679–1737).    

 

Different parts of the plant, flowers and seeds etc. are used for various medicinal purposes. The Flowers are bitter, demulcent, antipyretic, diuretic; useful in scabies, leprosy and gonorrhoea; mixed with sweet oil applied in eczema. Decoction of flowers or oil of the seeds considered useful in flatulence. Fruits are beneficial in dyspepsia and in renal disease. Champa oil from flowers finds application in gout. Seeds and fruits are applied for healing cracks in feet. Dried root and root bark are employed to clear bowels and in menstruation troubles. It’s a natural Coolant. It is used to cure Urinary tract infection, Leprosy, Cough, Abdominal disorders, Amenorrhoea, Dysmenorrhoea, Loss of appetite, Anorexia, Cardiac debility, Burning sensation in skin, skin diseases, Inflammation Amenorrhoea, Dysmenorrhoea, Worm infestation, Fever, General weakness, Toxicity.

As children we were often warned not to go near Champak tree. Elders frightened us with a warning that there might be snakes in it being attracted with its extremely fragrant flowers. It was baseless. I found it later. The flower with its colour, petals, fragrance is simply heavenly. Plant a champak tree in your front or backyard; wait and let it come to bloom; then see the change all around it. The whole vicinity seems perfumed.

Yellow Oleander

Names of Yellow Oleander in different languages

Yellow oleander is also known as Mexican oleander, Cook tree, Milk Bush Tree, Dicky plant, Be-still tree, Exile tree, Lucky nut etc.

- It is called Peeli kaner, Kaneil, Zard kunel in Hindi

- Kolkaphul, Haldi karobi, China karobi in Bengali

- Sammulhimar, Diffuli in Assamese

- Utonglei in Manipuri

- Bitti, Pilvalakenhera, Kanher in Marathi

- Pila-kanera in Gujrati

- Kanir in Punjabi

- Pachaiyalari, Alari, Tiruvachippu, Manjataleri, Ponnarali in Tamil

- Manja areli, Pachcha areli in Malayalam

- Pachaganeru, Erra Ganneru, Jannerat in Telugu

- Kadukasi, Kanagilu, Kharjaher, Kanogaluin Kannada

- In Sanskrit it is called Ashvaghna, Ashvamaraka, Ashvantaka, Hayamaara, Divyapushpa, Haripriya, Ravipriya, Shatakunda, Karavira, Viraka, Gauripushpa, Siddhapushpa etc.

- We call it Kaniar in my mother tongue Oriya.

The Botanical name is Cascabela thevetia (L.) (Syn.Thevetia peruviana) (Apocyanaceae family)

The Plant structure of   Cascabela thevetia

It is an average height tree which grows to about 10 to 15 feet high.  The leaves are linear and of 13 - 15 cm in length.  The flowers are beautiful bright yellow coloured, twisted (there are white and orange variants too). They look like bright yellow bells. Tips of leaves are slender, pointy and of a deep green shade. The fruits are globular, four-sided, fleshy and of 4 to 5 cm diameter.  Yellow Oleander fruit is green when unripe, then turns a bright, earthy red, and finally it becomes black, the inside of which turns a glossy, dark brown stone, which is often called the "lucky nut." The plant is basically grown as an ornamental tree everywhere both in gardens, roadside and at temple precincts for offerings.

All parts of the plant, especially the kernels of the fruit, the seeds are poisonous. Ingestion of any part of the plant could result in death. The common presenting symptoms are numbness, vomiting, abdominal pain, burning of the mouth, nausea, and diarrhea.  Other features seen are occasional convulsions, drowsiness, coma, and cardiac arrhythmia.

Propagation of Yellow Oleander Plant

It contains a milky sap or latex. That makes its propagation easier. You can propagate it from seeds in spring. It Can also be propagated from cuttings in spring-early summer with semi-ripe cuttings of terminal shoots.

Medicinal Properties of Yellow Oleander

The plant has emetic, febrifuge, antiperiodic, abortifacient, antimicrobial, purgative and laxatives properties.

Ayurvedic and Folk Medicinal use of Yellow Oleander

-All parts of the plant are very poisonous. The foliage is not grazed and being poison avoided by livestock. The kernels with a soap base is used as insecticide. The bark and seeds are used to rat poison in rural areas.

-Despite being very poisonous, oleander seeds and leaves are used for various health disorders like asthma, malaria, ringworm, epilepsy, heart conditions, amenorrhoea, venereal diseases, leprosy, indigestion, skin problems and warts, and even cancer.

-Decoction of the bark or leaf in regulated doses is taken to loosen the bowels.

-Because it is an emetic and febrifuge, decoction of the leaves is said to be an effective cure for malarial fever and intermittent fevers, jaundice, intestinal worms.

-The latex is used to alleviate toothache of decayed teeth.

-The juice of the bark is used to treat ulcers and chronic sore.

-It is also applied to soften hard corns and calluses in the feet.

-Infusion of the roots is used in the treatment of snake-bites.

-Water in which the leaves and bark have been soaked is taken to cure amenorrhoea.

-The seeds are used for treatment of dropsy and rheumatism.

-The seed powder is sometimes used to alleviate hemorrhoids.

-The oil obtained from the kernel is applied to treat skin disorders and is used for soap making.

-The paste made of the roots are made into a plaster for treatment of tumors.

-Very slight amount of the fruits are used in ointments and creams.

                                                             Fruit of Yellow Oleander

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.

Holy Basil

Basil, Sweet basil or Holy basil in India is the most sacred plant in every Hindu household. Every traditional Indian home has at least one plant of Holy basil growing in their yard, which they use for both medicinal as well as religious purposes. It is called Ramtulasi in Hindi, Sabje in Gujarati, Sabza in Marathi, Tirunittru in Tamil, Khubkalam  in Bengali, Kattu tulasi in Malayalam. In Oriya we call it Tulasi too.Its Botanical name is Ocimum basilicum.

Tulsi has been revered in India for over five thousand years, as a healing balm for body, mind and spirit, and is known to bestow an amazing and diverse healing properties resulting in a number of health benefits.

Basically a tropical herb, Holy basil has a strong pungent taste and a distinctive sweet aroma that makes it a favourite for various culinary preparations as well. Sweet basil, with its wonderful aroma and flavour, is one of the most popular and widely grown herbs in the world. Basil is an annual herb to 2-3 ft 0.6-0.9 m tall with slender but woody, green stems. Basil has with hairy stems and simple opposite green leaves, oval and slightly toothed. The tiny purple or white flowers arranged in flattened whorls that encircle the stems, one whorl above another. 

There are two main types of cultivated in India. Sri or Lakshmi tulsi or gaya tulsi has green leaves and Krishna tulsi has purple leaves. In Oriya we call it Dhala tulasi and Kala Tulasi.

It is a principal herb of Ayurveda, the ancient traditional holistic health system of India. It is regarded in Ayurveda as a kind of "elixir of life” and is known as “The Incomparable One", "The Mother Medicine of Nature", and "The Queen of Herbs”. It is believed to promote longevity. Tulsi’s extracts are used in ayurvedic remedies for common colds, headaches, stomach disorders, inflammation, heart disease, various forms of poisoning, and malaria. Tulsi leaves are a nerve tonic and also sharpen memory. They promote the removal of the catarrhal matter and phlegm from the bronchial tube. The juice of tulsi leaves can be used to bring down fever and is used any seasonal cold. Water boiled with basil leaves can be taken as drink in case of sore throat. This water can also be used as a gargle. A decoction of the leaves, cloves and common salt gives immediate relief in case of influenza. In case of renal stone the juice of basil leaves and honey, if taken regularly for 6 months expels them via the urinary tract. Basil juice is beneficial in the treatment of ringworm and other skin diseases. Its leaves, dried in the sun and powdered, mixed with mustered oil is used as toothpaste for brushing teeth. It is beneficial in counteracting bad breath and for massaging the gums to prevent and cure pyorrhoea and other teeth disorders. For centuries, the dried leaves of tulsi mixed with grains is used to repel insects while preserving them. Tulsi is considered to be an adaptogen having anti-stress elements in it. It has antioxidant properties helpful in promoting immune system function. Recent studies suggested Tulsi to be an effective treatment for diabetes by reducing blood glucose levels. The same study showed significant reduction in total cholesterol levels with tulsi so beneficial in heart disease.

In Vaishnavite cult this flower and plant is revered greatly because it is believed to be the favourite flower of Lord Vishnu.

 

The Sacred pot with Holy basil in it to be worshipped called ' Chaura' in our inner yard

Tridax Daisy

Tridax daisy is also commonly known as coat buttons. It is called Jayanti veda, Ekapushpi, Vranaropani in Sanskrit, ghamra in Hindi, Kambarmodi in Marathi, Gaddi Chemanthi in Telugu,Thata poodu in Tamil. In Oriya we call it Bishalya karani.

This weed can be found in fields, meadows, roadsides in areas with tropical or semi-tropical climates. The plant bears daisy-like yellow-centered white or yellow flowers with three-toothed ray florets. It’s a spreading annual herb which can grow up to 20 cm in height. The leaves are serrate or dentate, acute, fleshy, toothed and generally arrowhead-shaped. Flower is in the head, long stalked and whitish. Its seeds are numerous, small with tuft of silky hairs on one side for wind dispersal. The fruit is a hard achene with brush-like hair all over it and at the bottom it holds a  feathery, plume like white pappus.

This weed or rather say herb is known for several potential , powerful and effective therapeutic activities like antiviral, antibiotic efficacies, wound healing activity, insecticidal and anti-inflammatory activity, healing ulcers, anal fistula, and haemorrhoidsThe leaf juice has antiseptic, insecticidal and parasiticidal properties. . In tribal areas in India the leaf juice is used to cure fresh wounds, to stop bleeding.

In some countries (in USA) it has been listed as a noxious weed and a pest. But in India we know it as an invaluable herb having numerous ayurvedic properties. The name itself is suggestive of that medicinal property. In Indian mythology the Ramayana we have read that when Laxman swooned with Indrajit’s warhead (known as Shaktibheda), as per advice of Sushena ,the greatest physician of Lanka, Hanuman went flying to the mountain Gandhamardan to fetch bisalyakarani. The juice of that herb cured Laxman . And from early childhood we have been taught and know that the juice of its leaves when applied to a fresh wound stops bleeding and heals the wound very quickly. In Cuttack, the biggest commercial city having 1000 year old rich culture and history in Orissa; there is a lane called Bisalyakarani Lane where an ayurvedic product of the same name bishalyakarani is produced.

Tidax daisy bud

 

The matured fruit of tridax daisy ready to disperse in wind

Madar

Sodom Apple is a Perennial flowering plant that carries white or lavender flowers. It has many names. It is also called Giant Swallow Wort, Milkweed, Swallow-wort, Sodom Apple, dead sea apple, akund fibre, French cotton, marsh milkweed, rubber bush, desert apple, king's crown, rooster tree, Dead Sea fruit, desert wick, Madar Tree. The botanical name is Calotropis procera.It is called arka and alarka or rajarka in Sanskrit, Aak, Akavana, Madar in Hindi, Aakado in Gujrati, Akan, Akand in Assamese, Akanda, Akone in Bengali, Acka in Kashmiri, Erikku in Malayalam, Rui in Marathi, Ak in Punjabi, Ekka, Ekkadagida, Ekkegida in Kannada , Erukku, Vellerukku in Tamil, Jilledu in Telugu, Aak, Madar in Urdu. In Oriya we call it Arakha.

It grows throughout India, in dry waste places. It is a shrub or small tree reaching up to 2.5-6 m in height, stem usually simple, rarely branched, woody at base and covered with a fissured, corky bark.  Like milk, a white latex  oozes out when u cut any part of this plant . The fruits are short, stout peduncles. The green globes are hollow but the flesh contains a toxic milky sap that is extremely bitter.

The plant has ash colored bark covered with white fuzz and silver-green large leaves that grow opposite on the stems. The flowers grow at the tops of apical stems and produce fruits.

 Two varieties of arka are found, one with white flowers (Calotropis procera) and the other with lilac, rosy or purple tinted flowers (Calotropis gigantean).Its root-bark is very largely used in India as a treatment for elephantiasis, leprosy, and in chronic eczema. Leaves are often used to treat paralysis, swellings and intermittent fevers. Flowers are useful in asthma, catarrh, anorexia, inflammations and tumours. The poultice of its leaves effectively reduces the pain and swelling in rheumatic joints and filariasis. The medicated oil is beneficial in otitis and deafness; the topical sprinkle of dried leaves powder hastens the wound healing. Slightly warmed with thin coat of castor oil, is beneficial to relieve the abdominal pain. It also, is useful in piles. The latex also mitigates the dental aches; is also used in treating vertigo, baldness, hair fall, tooth aches, intermittent fevers, rheumatism and paralysis. The flowers and root bark decoction taken for treating blood impurity, filariasis, syphilis, asthma, cough.

When Calotropis procera is dried, it can be used internally as a tonic, it is also an expectorant. The dried and powdered root is chiefly administered for bronchitis, asthma, leprosy, eczema and elephantiasis, diarrhoea and dysentery. The whole plant’s extract induces spermicidal and anti-microbial activities, simulates estrogens in the reproductive tract, and acts as anti-infertility.

White Araka or Crown flower (Calotropis gigantean) is known as akund in Sanskrit, is favourite of Lord Shiva. It possesses great medicinal properties.

But it should never be used by self medication because it possesses poisonous substances and is toxic. It can only be used as directed by an ayurvedic doctor.

Sweta arak or white arka also known as Akund (Calotropis gigantea)

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.