KAATTU AMALPORI (കാട്ടു അമൽ പ്പൊരി )

ENGLISH NAME:  WILD SERPANT ROOT
                                               
BOTANIC NAME:  Chasalia curviflora   

Synonym: Chasalia ophyoxyloids 

FAMILY : Rubiaceae

HABIT: An erect, evergreen, shade loving plant.     
                                                     
DESCRIPTION                         
         PLANT : Shrub grows up to a height of 1meter.
         LEAF : Simple, opposite, 10-15 cm length, 2.5-5cm width. Dark green in colour.
         FLOWER:  Inflorescence terminal, in cymes up to 3cm long,
                  Petals five, white margin with yellow shade inside.
                  Purple tubular corolla curves upwards.
                  Tiny white coloured sepals.

       FRUIT/SEED: fleshy green in colour turns to black when ripe.

PROPAGATION   : By seeds 

MEDICINAL USES: 

The roots are used in tribal medicines.

 APPLICATIONS:  

Folkloric:
Paste of leaves and root is applied topically on affected places to heal wounds and pimples.     
Decoction of the root is reported to be used for the treatment of Pneumonia and throat pain.     


LOCAL NAMES: KAARUTHA AMALPORI , VELLA KURINJI (Malayalam).