CHITTHIRAPPALA

FORGOTTEN EDIBLE LEAVES OF KERALA

VOL.II

Common names:

English:               Astma weed,

                             Cats hair,

Common spurge.

Hindi :                  Laldudhi

                             Bara dudhi.

Tamil:                  Ammam Paccharisi

Telugu:                Nanabalu.

Kannada:            Achchedia

Other names:

                             Palcheera

Nilapala

Kuzhinagapala.

Botanic name:   Euphorbia hirta

Family:                Euphorbiaceae.

                        Chithirappala is a Perennial ascending hairy, purplish, green herb with opposite, elliptic-oblong 1-1.25cm long leaves.

Chithirappala commonly found in waste lands and way sides.

It grows up to 30cm tall.

Flowers:

Inflorescence found in leaf axils in clusters.

Propagated by seeds. Seeds are capsule.

Medicinal properties:

Herb expectorant, anthelmintic (able to destroy intestinal worms), Used in bronchial affections, cough, asthma and in bowel complaints.

Culinary Use/ Recipe:

First cut Chithirappala Leaves in to small pieces mix it with grinded coconut, green chilli and salt as required and keep aside.

Heat coconut oil in a pan or Kadai.

Add the mustard seeds and fry till they crackle.

Then add finely cut Chithirappala leaves along with coconut, green chilli and salt.

Stir and sauté for a few minutes and serve hot.

MURIKOOTI (Hemigraphis colorata )

Common name: 

English: Red flame ivy,

           Metal leaf,

    Cemetery plant.

Malayalam: Murikooti.

Sanskrit: Vranaropani.

Botanical name: Hemigraphis colorata Blume.

Family: Acanthaceae

Murikooti is a Perennial, Ornamental plant cultivated for its dark purple foliage.

Leaves:

Leaves are opposite, ovate, 4.5 to 8 centimetres wide, rounded and heart shaped base with toothed margins.

Flowers:

Flowers are white, found in terminal spikes up to 7 centimeters long.  Corolla is tubular, cylindrical below, Swollen above, 10 to 15 millimetres long and 5 lobed.

Medicinal properties:

Paste of leaves applied to fresh wounds to stop bleeding and promote healing.

Recent studies show that the plants extracts have enhanced antibacterial, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory properties.

BILIMBI (Vilimbi)

Common names:        Bilimbi,

Cucumber tree.

Botanic name:  Averrhoa bilimbi L. Family :              OXALIDACEAE

Hindi                            Bilimbi

Tamil                           Pulima, Pilimpi

Kannada                      Belambu

Telugu                         Gommereku

Other Local names:

Irumban puli

Ilumbi

Bilibili

Bimblee

Description:

 An attractive, small tree about 3 to 5 m tall.

 Leaves:

Leaves are compound, arranged alternately, have single terminal leaflet.

Leaves are about 30 to 60 cm long and are clustered mainly at the branch tips. Each leaf has 11 to 37 leaflets, which are arranged alternately or slightly opposite. They are oblong in shape with rounded base and pointed tip .

 Flowers:

Flowers are tiny with five red to dark red petals. Flowers emerge directly from the stem and on oldest branches.

 Fruits:

The Bilimbi fruit is 5 to 10 cm long, cylindrical and five-sided with hair-like floral remnants at the lowest end. It is bright green when unripe and turns ivory or white when ripe; skin is very thin, soft and tender. Fruit is juicy and highly acidic.

Uses:

 Bilimbi is too acidic to be eaten raw but is used to make curry, chutney and salad. It is also cooked with chilli, which can be kept for a long time. To reduce acidity bilimbi is prickled and soaked in water overnight or boiled with salt for a few minutes. Fruit is also used to clean metals and remove stain.

Medicinal properties:

It is reported that in Malasia the leaves of the Bilimbi is used in the treatment of veneral diseases.

Leaf decotion is used to  relive rectal inflammation.

The fruit has also been used for a variety of maladies: Rheumatism,pimples, cough and prevention of scurvy.

Propagation :

 It requires full sun for fast growth and prefers seasonally humid climates. Bilimbi is grown mainly from seeds.Before sowing seeds should be washed thoroughly. Stem cuttings are also used for propagation.

 Foot note:
The fruit contains high levels of oxalate. It is reported that people who drank the concentrated juice on continuous days may cause acute renal failure due to tubular necrosis caused by oxalate.