Vellila ( Mussaenda glabrata)

Common name: 

English:

Dhobi Tree,

Flag bush,

Wild mussaenda.

Hindi:

Bedina

Tamil:

Velli matantai

Kannada:

Bellotti.

Sanskrit:

Shrivati.

Botanical name:

Mussaenda  glabrata.

Synonym:

Mussaenda frondosa

Family:

Rubiaceae

 An ornamental wild shrub, the development of one calyx segment of each flower in to a white leafy structure makes the plant attractive.

Leaves:

The leaves are broadly elliptic, 7.5-13.5 cm long, 4.5-8 cm broad, tip shortly tapering.

Flowers:

Flowers are found in clusters of orange-yellow in colour and in tubular form.

Fruits:

Fruits are Berries are obovoid, 1-1.3 cm long.

Medicinal properties:

Wild Mussaenda leaves make excellent herbal shampoo.

It is an antiseptic, applied on ulcers.

 In a recent studies it shows that that the Wild Mussaenda could be pharmaceutically exploited for antioxidant properties.

In tribal medicine shoot extract is used for cough in childrens and also for eye diseases.