SWERTIYA CHIRAYATA | karaya

Classification of SWERTIYA CHIRAYATA

Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Gentianales

Family: Gentianaceae

Genus: Swertia

Common names of swertiya chirayata:-nelabevu,kirata-tikta,nila vembu,chirata..

NATURE:-It is a herb with height of 1.6 cm. The plant prefers light , medium and heavy soils.

LEAVES:-Leaves are mostly appears in opposite pairs, about 12 cm long, withought stalk.

FLOWERS:-Flowers are mostly pale green , tinged with purple. Itsflowering appears from September to October.

FRUITS:-Fruits are likely8 mm long and ovoid in shape.

MEIDCINAL USES:-chirayata is known as its bitter properties.it is given in malerial fever.it is given in fever and weakness. It is well known for its stomachal property also. It also contains xanthones, which are reputedly effective against malaria and tuberculosis, and also amarogentin, a glycoside that may protect the liver against carbon tetrachloride poisoning.

STERCULIYA URENS | karaya

STERCULIYA URENS karaya

Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Malvales

Family: Sterculiaceae

Genus: Sterculia

COMMON NAMES OF STERCULIYA URENS:-gulu, karai, kandol, thondi,kulu,ponaku

NATURE:-It is a normal size deciduous tree, Noticeable in an unpleasant way in the forest by its white or greenish-white and shining and also by the smooth paper bark.

LEAVES:-Leaves are mostly crowded at the end of the branches, which is in diameter by 25-45 cm,with their shallowely 5-lobed,with densely hairy on under surface.

FLOWERS:-Flowers are mostly yellowish –brown in colour, small ..in large with very densely hairy erect bunches.

FRUITS:-Fruits are mostly thick in size and they are in red carpels densely covered with stinging hairs.

MEDICINAL USES:-The gum release from the stem of the tree has its medicinal uses:, that is called karaya gum.that is used as a mechanical purgative.the karaya gum when applied to the skin has a softer

Softer action than tragacanth gum. The wood of this tree is used for mostly domestic purpose.. like a doors ,paking cases, carving etc.. the seeds of the plants are nontoxic. The gum is eaten in East Indian cookery (curries).