AROGYA PACHA (Trichopus zeylanicus)

Family :                      Dioscoriaceae
Botanic name:            Trichopus zeylanicus

Arogyapacha is a small herbaceous plant, endemic and found in Western ghats of Kerala.

"Arogya pacha", literally meaning "the green that gives strength".

Tribal people use it as a stimulant and to keep stamina for a long time. 

Kani tribals of Agsthya hills of western ghats first introduced the medicinal properties of this plant to modern wold. Now they prepare a Tonic named "Jeevani " from this plant.

It is reported that   it can improve sex drive and help in reduce weight, 

Regular intake of fruits reduces stress and anxiety. 

Tribal people believe that regular consumption of fruit can prevent ageing and also enhance immunity.

Trichopus zeylanicus flower

Lobster moth Caterpiller

Family:  Notodontidae

Wonderfully disguised as dead leaf.

Eating rose leaves.

Dancing girl ginger

Botanic name:            Globba marantina Linn

Local name:                Chota rasna.

Family :                       Zingiberaceae

Erect rhizomatous herbs.

Grows up to 50 cm high.

Leaves: bifarious, to 20 x 5 cm, oblong-lanceolate, acute at apex.

Flowers: solitary in each bracts; calyx 5 mm long, funnel shaped, 3-lobed; corolla 14 mm long, tube slender, lobes short, yellow; lip as long as the corolla, deeply 2-lobed, yellow; stamen 1, anthers broadly winged.

Medicinal Properties: Used by tribal people , Its roots and leaves is claimed to be used in the management of asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, cough, cold, snakebite and  as abortifacient. 

Crepidium acuminatum ( Jeevakam idavakam) ( ജീവകം എടവകം )

Malayalam names:

Jeevakam idavakam ( ജീവകം എടവകം  )

Botanic name: 

Crepidium acuminatum

Synonym:

Malaxis acuminata

Family:

 Orchidaceae   

  Crepidium acuminatum is a small to medium sized grows about 10 to 30 cm. It is a lithophytic orchid that grows in the shady areas of semi-evergreen to shrubby forest.  

It is a critically endangered species.

Pseudo-bulbs with out leaves are called Idavakam in malayalam.

Leaves:   3 to 5 , broadly lanceolate, acuminate and acute

Flowers:  inflorescence with lanceolate acute floral bracts.

Its dried pseudo-bulbs are important ingredients of several Ayurvedic preparations like Chyawanprash,Ajamamsa Rasayanam… etc.

Medicinal properties:

It belongs to Ashtverga (combination of eight drugs) which is one of the core parts of the Ayurveda.

It is reported that Jeevakam has been used to increase the quantity of semen or to stimulate the production of semen.

Its swollen stem is sweet, refrigerant, antidysentric, febrifuge and tonic.

It is used in condition of sterility, vitiyated condition of pitta and vata, internal and external haemorrhages, fever, burning sensation and general disability.

Jeevakam is of a renowned status in the Ayurveda, but yet it has been very less studied further  detailed  studies on phytochemistry and pharmacological properties should be conducted.

SINGAPORE DAISY ( സിങ്കപ്പൂർ ഡെയ്സി )

Botanic name:    Sphagneticola trilobata 

Family:                  Asteraceae

Malayalam names:

Singapore daisy,

kaathilpoo,

Kammalpoo,

Manja kanjanny.

Other names:

creeping oxeye,

 Bay Biscayne creeping-oxeye,

 creeping daisy,

creeping ox eye,

creeping ox-eye,

creeping oxeye,

creeping wedelia,

rabbit's paw,

Trailing daisy,

wedelia,

yellow dots.

Singapore daisy is a low climbing plant native to Mexico, Central America.

It is planted by people, throughout world as a garden plant, later spread into surrounding areas as a weed.

 It spreads vegetatively and forms a dense ground cover, just like a mat.

It is listed in the IUCN's  “ List of world,s 100 worst invasive species”.

It is a nectaring plant for Honey bees and Butterflys.

The leaves:

Lush glossy green, usually 3 lobed and in pairs up the stem 4–18 cm long and 1.5–8 cm wide.

Flowers:

Yellow to orange-yellow daisy flowers about 2 cm. The flowers are held above the leaves on short leaf stalks.

Seeds :

Elongated, brown 4–5 mm long. The amount of seed per flowers varies greatly.

Medicinal properties:

Kaurenoic acid is a diterpene present in Singapore daisy. 

Kaurenoic acid presnt in the leaves shows analgesic,anti inflamatory activity (Mizokami2012),Wound healing and antibacterial activity ( Balekar 2012).

It is reported that Singapore daisy is used for hepatitis, indigestion due to sluggish liver, white stools, burning in the urine / stopping of urine, and for infections.

 A concoction of the plant is used to bathe those suffering from backache, muscle cramps, rheumatism, or swellings, by boiling the fresh stems and leaves in 2 gallons of water for 10 minutes.

Cananga odorata ( പച്ച ചെമ്പകം )

Malayalam names:

Pachachempakam,

Kattuchempakam, 

Kanangamaram, 

Langilangi,

 Madana. 

Cananga odorata a fast-growing tree of the custard-apple family Annonaceae.

Its growth exceeds 5 m per year and attains an average height of 12 m.

It grows in full or partial sun, and prefers the acidic soils.

 Leaves are dark green, up to 20 cm in length, alternate, simple, entire, elliptic-oblong, slightly pubescent, and with a prominent midrib and drip tip.

It flowers throughout the year in axillary, umbellate hanging clusters of 4–12 flowers.The flower has three sepals and six petals up to 8 cm long. The petals are twisted when young, then limp and drooping when mature. Flowers are very fragrant, greenish yellow.

It is mainly used as an ornamental plant.

JEWEL BUG

Chrysocoris sp.

They are called Jewel bugs or metallic shield bugs due to their brilliant coloration.

KADAMBA TREE (Neolamarckia cadamba)

Botanical Name: Neolamarckia cadamba

 Synonym: Anthocephalus cadamba. 

Common name: Kadam

Malayalam name: kadamb (കടമ്പ്   ),

                              Vella kadamb, (വെള്ള കടമ്പ് ) 

                              Aattu thekk( ആറ്റു തേക്ക്  ).

English name: burflower-tree

Kadamba is a fast growing deciduous tree which grows throughout India and now  planted in urban areas as a shade tree. It is normally found in river banks. and grows up to 45 m tall, without branches for more than 25 m.

In Hindu mythology, Kadam was the favourite tree of Krishna and some people believes it was the favourite tree of Sita.

flower bud

Flowers:  Yellow/orange, in dense, globose heads. They appear like solid, hairy Yellow/orange balls.

Flowers

Fruits: small capsules, packed closely together to form a fleshy, containing approx. 8,000 seeds.

Seed

The timber is used for plywood, pulp and paper, medium boxes and some furniture components

.

Medicinal properties:

It is one of the useful herbs mentioned in all ancient Sanskrit scriptures and Ayurvedic texts.

It is reported that it act as an analgesic and its fruit pulp as a purifier of seminal fluids.

 It is believed to have medicinal value in curing  ulcer, digestive problems, diarrhoea, vomiting fever  and as an expectorant.