Justicia adhatoda (ആടലോടകം)

 7

 Justicia adhatoda (ആടലോടകം)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Angiosperms
Class:	Eudicots
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Acanthaceae
Genus:	Justicia
Species:	J. adhatoda
Binomial name
Justicia adhatoda

Justicia adhatoda commonly known in English as Malabar nut, adulsa, adhatoda, vasa, vasaka,is native to Asia.

The plant's native range is Afghanistan, the Indian subcontinent (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka), Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. It has been introduced elsewhere.

Description

Justicia adhatoda is a shrub with 10-20 lance-shaped leaves 8-9 centimeters in length by four wide. They are oppositely arranged, smooth-edged, and borne on short petioles.When dry they are of a dull brownish-green colour. They are bitter-tasting. When a leaf is cleared with chloral hydrate and examined microscopically the oval stomata can be seen. They are surrounded by two crescent-shaped cells at right angles to the ostiole. The epidermis bears simple one- to three-celled warty hairs, and small glandular hairs. Cystoliths occur beneath the epidermis of the underside of the blade.

The trunk has many long opposite ascending branches, where the bark is yellowish in color. Flowers are usually white and the inflorescence shows large, dense, axillary spikes. Fruits are pubescent, and are with club-shaped capsules

Reference Link

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justicia_adhatoda

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MTM College of Arts Science and Commerce. 

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Holy Basil (തുളസി )

 6

 

Holy Basil (തുളസി ) Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Lamiales Family: Lamiaceae Genus: Ocimum Species: O. tenuiflorum Binomial name Ocimum tenuiflorum "Tulasi" redirects here. For the 2007 Indian film, see Tulasi (film). For the Indian actress, see Tulasi (actress). "Holy Basil" redirects here. Not to be confused with holy herb (Verbena officinalis). Ocimum tenuiflorum Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Eudicots Clade: Asterids Order: Lamiales Family: Lamiaceae Genus: Ocimum Species: O. tenuiflorum Binomial name Ocimum tenuiflorum Synonyms Geniosporum tenuiflorum (L.) Merr. Lumnitzera tenuiflora (L.) Spreng. Moschosma tenuiflorum (L.) Heynh. Ocimum anisodorum F.Muell. Ocimum caryophyllinum F.Muell. Ocimum hirsutum Benth. Ocimum inodorum Burm.f. Ocimum monachorum L. Ocimum sanctum L. Ocimum scutellarioides Willd. ex Benth. Ocimum subserratum B.Heyne ex Hook.f. Ocimum tomentosum Lam. Ocimum villosum Roxb. Plectranthus monachorum (L.) Spreng. Ocimum tenuiflorum, commonly known as holy basil or tulsi, is an aromatic perennial plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Australia, Malesia, Asia, and the western Pacific. It is widely cultivated throughout the Southeast Asian tropics. This plant has escaped from cultivation and has naturalized in many tropical regions of the Americas. It is an agricultural and environmental weed. Tulasi is cultivated for religious and traditional medicine purposes, and also for its essential oil. It is widely used as a herbal tea, commonly used in Ayurveda, and has a place within the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism, in which devotees perform worship involving holy basil plants or leaves. References Link : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocimum_tenuiflorum ==============================  Medicinal Plants Garden MTM College of Arts Science and Commerce.  Veliyancode.  Website: https://www.mtmcasc.ac.in/

 

 

 

 

5

Sida rhombifolia (കുറുന്തോട്ടി)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Scientific Name: Sida rhombifolia)

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Malvaceae
Genus:	Sida
Species:	S. rhombifolia
Binomial name
Sida rhombifolia

 

Sida rhombifolia, commonly known as arrowleaf sida, is a perennial or sometimes annual plant in the Family Malvaceae, native to the Old World tropics and subtropics. Other common names include rhombus-leaved sida, Paddy's lucerne, jelly leaf, and also somewhat confusingly as Cuban jute, Queensland-hemp, and Indian hemp (although S. rhombifolia is not closely related to either jute or hemp). Synonyms include Malva rhombifolia. It is used in Ayurvedic medicine, where it is known as kurumthotti.

Description

The stems are erect to sprawling and branched, growing 50 to 120 centimeters in height, with the lower sections being woody. The dark green, diamond-shaped leaves are arranged alternately along the stem, 4 to 8 centimeters long, with petioles that are less than a third of the length of the leaves. The leaves are paler below, with short, grayish hairs. The apical half of the leaves have toothed or serrated margins while the remainder of the leaves are entire (untoothed). The petioles have small spiny stipules at their bases

References Link :

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sida_rhombifolia

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Long pepper (തിപ്പലി)

 

4

Long pepper (തിപ്പലി)

Scientific Name:  Piper longum

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Piperales
Family:	Piperaceae
Genus:	Piper
Species:	P. longum
Binomial name
Piper longum         Long pepper (Piper longum), sometimes called Indian long pepper or pippali, is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. Long pepper has a taste similar to, but sweeter and less pungent than, that of its close relative Piper nigrum – from which black, green and white pepper are obtained. The fruit of the pepper consists of many minuscule fruits – each about the size of a poppy seed – embedded in the surface of a flower spike that closely resembles a hazel tree catkin. Like Piper nigrum, the fruits contain the pungent compound piperine, which contributes to their pungency. Another species of long pepper, Piper retrofractum, is native to Java, Indonesia. The fruits of this plant are often confused with chili peppers, which belong to the genus Capsicum, originally from the Americas   References Link :  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_pepper ==============================  Medicinal Plants Garden MTM College of Arts Science and Commerce.  Veliyancode.  Website: https://www.mtmcasc.ac.in/

Bone Setter / Veld grape (ചങ്ങലംപരണ്ട)

 3

 

 

Bone Setter / Veld grape

ചങ്ങലംപരണ്ട

മറ്റു പേരുകൾ:

(സംസ്‌കൃതം) വജ്രവല്ലി, അസ്ഥിസംഹാരി, അസ്ഥി ശൃംഖല, കലിശ

(തമിഴ്) പരണ്ടൈ വള്ളി

Scientific Name:  (Cissus quadrangularis)

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Vitales
Family:	Vitaceae
Genus:	Cissus
Species:	quadrangularis

Cissus quadrangularis is a perennial plant of the grape family. It is commonly known as veldt grape, winged treebine or adamant creeper. The species is native to tropical Asia, the Arabian Peninsula and much of Africa.

Description

Cissus quadrangularis reaches a height of 1.5 m (4.9 ft) and has quadrangular-sectioned branches with internodes 8–10 cm (3–4 in) long and 1.2–1.5 cm (0.5–0.6 in) wide. Along each angle is a leathery edge. Toothed trilobe leaves 2–5 cm (0.8–2.0 in) wide appear at the nodes. Each has a tendril emerging from the opposite side of the node. Racemes of small white, yellowish, or greenish flowers; globular berries are red when ripe.

Cissus quadrangularis is an evergreen climber growing to 5 m (16 ft) by .5 m (1.6 ft) at a fast rate. It is hardy to zone (UK) 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought

References Link :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cissus_quadrangularis

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MTM College of Arts Science and Commerce. 

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Desmodium gangeticum ഓരില

 2

Desmodium gangeticum (ഓരില)

 

 

(Scientific Name: Desmodium gangeticum).

സംസകൃതം: പ്രഥക് പർണ്ണി

മറ്റു  പേരുകൾ: സ്ഥിര, ക്രോഷ്ട്രുപുഛിക, ധവനി, ചിത്രപർണ്ണീ

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Subclass:	Rosidae
(unranked):	Eurosids I
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Tribe:	Desmodieae
Genus:	Desmodium
Species:	D.gangeticum
Binomial name
Desmodium gangeticum

Description

Desmodium gangeticums growth habit is a small shrub. It can grow up to 2–4 feet tall. The leaves are simple and alternative. They have an oblong shape and pinnate venation. They tend to grow up to 15 cm in length and 5 cm in width. The flowers have bilateral symmetry and are characterized for purple and white colors, and they have 3 petals. The inflorescence is indeterminate meaning that the growing flowers are on the top while the full flowers are on the lower part. The sexual reproductive system is hermaphroditic.

Ecology

Desmodium gangeticum is found in places with partial shade or in the open, and very rarely in deep shade. It is native to tropical Africa, Asia, and northern Australia. Its biome is typically anthropogenic habitats in the lowlands, under ever wet or seasonal conditions. This plant grows best in dry conditions with clayey loam soils that are alkaline and moderately calcareous. The plant also uses pollinator such as bees and is frequently grazed by cattle which aids with seed dispersal. The plant spreads its seed through the small hairs on the seedpods that readily cling to human skin and clothing as well as other animals’ fur and feathers. This ensures that the seed gets maximum dispersal. Due to this method the plant is considered an invasive weed in some habitats. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria; these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. One fungal parasite has been recorded on this species from India (Synchytrium desmodiicola), most seedlings come up in July after the first few showers and flowering and fruiting take place from October to February.

References Link :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmodium_gangeticum

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Dancing Plant - (തൊഴുകണ്ണി / രാമനാമപ്പച്ച )

1

 Dancing Plant - (തൊഴുകണ്ണി / രാമനാമപ്പച്ച )

 

 

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Genus:	Codariocalyx
Species:	C. motorius
Binomial name
Codariocalyx motorius

Codariocalyx motorius (though often placed in Desmodium), known as the telegraph plant, dancing plant, or semaphore plant, is a tropical Asian shrub in the Pea Family (Fabaceae), one of a few plants capable of rapid movement; others include Mimosa pudica, the venus flytrap and Utricularia. The motion occurs in daylight hours when the temperature is above 72 °F (22 °C). Many sources claim that the two leaflets move on a common axis (like the blades of a kayak paddle) even though there is no rigid connection between them.

It is widely distributed throughout Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. It can even be found on the Society Islands, a remote chain of islands in the South Pacific. It produces small, purple flowers. This plant has small, lateral leaflets which move at speeds rapid enough to be perceivable with the naked eye. This is possibly a strategy to maximise light by tracking the sun. Each leaf is equipped with a hinge that permits it to be moved to receive more sunlight, but the weight of these leaves means the plant must expend a lot of energy in moving it. To optimise its movement, each large leaf has two small leaflets at its base. These move constantly along an elliptical path, sampling the intensity of sunlight, and directing the large leaf to the area of most intensity. Another hypothesis has been offered that the rapid movements are intended to deter potential predators. It has also been suggested that these movements may be a form of butterfly mimicry to prevent the laying of butterfly eggs on the plant's leaves.

The common name is due to the rotation of the leaflets with a period of about three to five minutes; this was likened to a semaphore telegraph, a structure with adjustable paddles that could be seen from a distance, the position of which conveyed a message in semaphore, hence the common names.

Branch during day (left) and night (right)

The plant is described in detail in Charles Darwin's 1880 The Power of Movement in Plants.

References Link :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codariocalyx_motorius

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MTM College of Arts Science and Commerce. 

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