Kalalavi | Gloriosa superba | Agnimukhi

Kalalavi (Agnimukhi)

classification of Gloriosa superba

Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Liliales

Family: Colchicaceae

Genus: Gloriosa
Common name: Malabar glory lily

Nature of Gloriosa superba

it is a climber on the leaves are elongated and their tips are modified as tendril.
this adaptation helps the plant in climbing. the flowers are large, orange red coloured and very attractive.

Special characteristics of Gloriosa superba
Leaf tips modified into tendrils and beautiful showy flowers.

Medicinal uses of Gloriosa superba
The roots and leaves used in snakebite. leaves given to cattle as antiworm treatment.
Colchicine, an alkaloid obtained from the tubers and seeds fetches high price in the market and used in scientific research.



position of Gloriosa superba
vulnerable in the wild.

Kuda | Kutaj | Holarrhena antidysenterica

Kuda(Kutaj)

Scientific name: Holarrhena antidysenterica

Family: Apocynaceae

Nature of Holarrhena antidysenterica

It is a tall shurb or small tree, evergreen in nature.
leaves are smooth large, ovate in shape; and about 15-31 cms. long and 10 cms. broad.
flowers are cream coloured, fragrant and borne in bunches .
the plant flowers profusely during February-March. fruits are thin and cylindrical, with two follicles attached together at distal ends.


Special characteristics of Holarrhena antidysenterica

Fragrant flowers and twin fruits.

Medicinal uses of Holarrhena antidysenterica

The roots and dried bark of the plant used as antidysentric drug. seeds are used in the treatment of fever and cold.
The plant is considered to be the best remedy for dysentery. the plant used in the ayurvedic preparation "Kutajarishta". it has a laxative property.

position of Holarrhena antidysenterica
Very common.

Helicteres isora | Indian screw-fruit | Murudsheng

Murudsheng (Murgshrung)

Scientific name: Helicteres isora

Common name: Indian screw-fruit

Family: Sterculiaceae

Nature of Helicteres isora
it is a shurb growing around 1.8 meters in height.
the leaves are ovate in shape with a serrate margin.
flowers are bright orange-red in colour when young and turn blackish before fruiting. fruits in a pod, five together forming a screw like structure.

location: mostly this plant Found in moist and deciduous forests

Special characteristics of Helicteres isora
Its orange red flowers and screw shaped fruits.

Medicinal uses of Helicteres isora
Fruits used in treating intestinal complaints, colic pains and flatulence.
roots used in diabetes and in convulsions.

position of Helicteres isora
common in moist forests during rainy season.

Gulvel | Tinospora cordifolia | Amruta

Gulvel (Amruta)

classification of Tinospora cordifolia

Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Ranunculales

Family: Menispermaceae

Genus: Tinospora

Species: T. cordifolia

Family: Meni permaceae

Nature of Tinospora cordifolia
It is a extensive perennial climber with grayish stem and tubercles on the surface.
it gives out hanging roots from the stem. the leaves are broad and heart-shaped.
the plant bears minute yellow flowers on long spikes


Special Characteristics of Tinospora cordifolia

The stem is gray with tubercles and has bitter test to its exude.

Medicinal uses of Tinospora cordifolia
The stem dried along with the bark is source of medicine.
It is a bitter tonic, useful in all types of liver problems. It is also given to reduce body heat (kadki).The plant is also useful in the treatment of jaundice.
Important ayurvadic preparation like "Amrutarishta"and"Gelvelsatva" are obtained from this plant.



position of Tinospora cordifolia : Common in the wild on trees.

Ashwagandha | Withama somnifera

Ashwagandha (Ashwagandha)

Scientific Name: Withama somnifera

Family: Solanaceae

Nature of Withama somnifera
It is aA erect perennial Herb growing on wasteland.
The stem and branches are covered with minute star-shaped hairs.
The leaves are ovate with acute apex and about 10 cms. long.


Special Characteristics of Withama somnifera
Its beautiful red fruits covered with membranous calyx.

Medicinal uses of Withama somnifera
The drug in the form of alkaloid, is obtained from the dried roots.
it is diuretic in function and used as a tonic for general weakness for all ages.
It is a common ingredient of many ayurvedic health tonics of commerce.

Sariva | Hmidesmus indicus | Anantmool | Indian sarsaparila

Anantmool (Sariva)

classification of Hemidesmus indicus

Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Gentianales

Family: Apocynaceae

Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae

Genus: Hemidesmus

Species: H. indicus

Common name: Indian sarsaparila

Nature of Emidesmus indicus
It is a perennial prostrate climber with different shapes of leaves.
rootstocks are fragrant and penetrate deep in the soil.

leaves very greatly in size and shape and opposite in arrangement.
young leaves have whitish midrib.
the flowers are small yellow and purple in colour, borne in umbellate cymes.

fruits with with two follicles and split open when dry.


Special characteristics of Emidesmus indicus

Roots are scented.

Medicianl uses of Emidesmus indicus

Roots are used as diuretic.
It is a well-known plant as blood purifier.
it is also used for improving appetite. young leaves if chewed are refreshing. medicinal preparations like "Raktadoshantak", "Safee" and" Surakta" contain the extract of this plant.
it is also used in ayurvadic and yunani medicine system.

position of Emidesmus indicus: Fairly common in the wild.

Sarpagandha | Rauvolfia serpentina | Sarpakshi

Sarpagandha (Sarpakshi)

classificaion of Rauvolfia serpentina

Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Gentianales

Family: Apocynaceae

Subfamily: Rauvolfioideae

Tribe: Vinceae

Genus: Rauvolfia

Common name: Serpentina Roots

Nature of Rauvolfia serpentina

It is a perennial herb less than a meter in height.
the leaves are long, lanceolate and bright green in colour. they are borne on stem in whorl of three. the flowers are pink or white and are in clusters.
the fruits are small, globose; initially greenish purplbin colour but eventually turning blackish when ripe.


Special characteristics of Rauvolfia serpentina
Its white-pink flowers and berries.

Medicinal usus of Rauvolfia serpentina
Its roots contain several alkaloids. the drug is mostly used as a sedative and for reducing blood pressure.
Used in ayurdice preparations.

position of Rauvolfia serpentina
Due to its heavy demand in medicines, the plant has become extremely rarein the wild.