STAR FRUIT

OTHER NAMES:

KARAMBOLA

BOTANIC NAME:

Averrhoa carambola

Native to Indonasia/ Srilanka.

Cross section of the fruit resembles a stars, hence its name.

Carambola trees are small, bushy evergreens with drooping branches.

Medium size tree, grows up to a height of 2-3 meters.

Star fruit can be eaten fresh or cooked. It is used for making Pickles.

Sweet and sour tasting fruit can be added as a garnish to salad.

It is a good source of Vitamin C.

Vitamin C has a wide range of positive effects on our health,

These include -

Antioxidant properties,

Boosting the immune system,

Promoting healthy skin, hair, and nails,

Increasing calcium uptake,

Increasing iron absorption....

But....

It is reported that in patients with chronic kidney disease, the consumption of star fruit may cause neurological problems. Presence of Oxalic acid is the reason for such problems.

CHEERA CHEMBU

(ചീര ചേമ്പ് )

OTHER NAMES:

Tahitian spinach,

Tahitian taro.

മക്കളെ പോറ്റി 

BOTANIC NAME:

Xanthosoma brasiliense.

Cheera chembu is a nutritious and delicious leafy vegetable.

Recently introduced in kerala and substituted the position of colacasia leaves.

This particular taro was developed for its yield of edible leaves and stems rather than its tuber as it has the least amount of irritating crystals and does not need a long cooking time – ten minutes is adequate.

The plant is native to the West Indies. It is belived that it was brought to Hawai from Tahiti island ,thus its name came as Tahitian spinach .

The leaves and leaf stems are eaten as a cooked, green vegetable and used for preparing delicious “Thoran”.

The leaves and leaf stems provides protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium and vitamins A, B, and C.

The leaves can be harvested all year round. 

GROWING PERIOD :

Can be planted throughout year.

First harvest can be taken after 4-6 weeks.

PROPAGATION:

Cheera chembu is propagated vegetatively by leaf-bearing small side shoots or suckers. 

It must be planted in a rich, damp, organic soil to grow well.

Sorghum

(Jower)

മണി ചോളം 

Sorghum is a cereal grass, used as a food and feed grain.

Fifth most important cereal in the world.

The crop is heat and drought tolerant.

Can be grown in any type of soil.

According to USDA, sorghum is a powerhouse in terms of nutrients. It can provide Vitamins like  thiamin (Vitamin B1), riboflavin (Vitamin B2),  and niacin(Vitamin B3),  as well as high levels of mangnesium, Iron , Copper, Calcium, phosphorous and Potassium. It contains nearly half of the daily, required intake of Protein and a very significant amount of dietary  Fiber.

A 2018 study conducted by US researchers suggests that sorghum bran rich in polyphenol may have anticancer potential and further research and scientific evidence is required. 

Another research published states that sorghum may have anticarcinogenic and antitumor properties and may prevent metastasis of cancer such as Breast cancer. It may also          anti-oesophageal effects suggests the same study. 

WATER MORNING GLORY (VAYAL CHEERA)

(വയൽ ചീര )

Botanic name: Ipomea aquatica

Family: Convolvulaceae

Other names:

Water spinach, 

River spinach,

water convolvulus,

Chinese spinach,

Chinese Watercress,

Chinese convolvulus,

Swamp cabbage 

Kangkong 

Phak bung 

Kangkung 

Gazun 

Kalmi saag .

Water morning glory semi aquatic leaf vegetable. 

Grows about one foot in height, if it get support  grow up to two meter in height. 

Stems are hollow. 

As its name suggest it is a water loving plant.

Flowers:

 3-5 cm in diameter, white in colour, Trumpet shaped.

Propagation:

By seeds or stem cutting.

Food value:

Tender stems with leaves are used as food.

Detaled studies showed that the Ipomea aquatica leaves contained

Gross energy value of 141.4 Kj/g.

Protein  3%,

Carbohydrate  4.5 %,

 Lipids 0.3 %,

Moisture  78 %,

Ash 1.6 %,

Fibre 1.4 %

Amino acids =4765 mg/100 g

Minerals

 Potassium   444 mg/100 g

 Calcium 163 mg/100g

 Sodium  159.8 mg/100g

 Phosphorus  86 mg/100 g

 Magnesium 52 mg/100 g

 Copper  5.3 mg/100 g

 Zinc 4.1 mg/100 g

 Iron 3.2 mg/100 g

 Manganese  2.3 mg/100 g

Medicinal value:

It is considered as laxative, hence commonly recommended for piles.

It is reported that Ipomea aquatica  provide nerve calming effect in case of sleeplessness, stress, headache and general weakness.

Other uses:

Ipomea aquatic a may be useful in removing heavy metalas and other minarals from contaminated water,such as drainage and municipal wastes.

Foot note: For food purpose never plant this plant near waste dumping areas/ waste burning areas. It will very easily absorb toxic minerals as well as heavy metals and this may leads to health hazards.

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.

NJATTUVELA

Njattuvela is a ancient system prevailed in Kerala for calculation of specific periods for cultivation. This knowledge acquired through observing the climate and seasons.

     Njattuvela is closely related to sun. It is believed that name “Njattuvela”derived from Njayar vela in which Njayar denotes Sun and Vela means periods.There are 27 Njattuvelas and each Njattuvela has  its own quality, quantity, duration and Character.In each Njattuvela there will be 13.5 days time frame.

Growth of plants influenced by the celestial bodies such as Sun and Moon. Since there is 365 days in a Year, if we divide this with 27 we will get 13.5 so each Njattuvela has 13.5 days. Only Thiruvathira Njattuvela is slightly longer (15 days), which is famous for its heavy rain and good sunshine.

 In Malayalam calendar each day is distinct with the name of a particular star in the sky and 27 stars are reckoned accordingly. 27 Njattuvelas are identified in the name of each of these stars based on the proximity of each stars with Sun.

ENGLISH MONTH	MALAYALAM MONTH	NJATTUVELA
APRIL  / MAY	MEDAM	ASWATHI
		BHARANI
		KARTHIKA  1/4
MAY / JUNE	EDAVAM	KARTHIKA  3/4
		ROHINI
		MAKAYIRAM  1/2
JUNE / JULY	MIDHUNAM	MAKAYIRAM  1/2
		THIRUVATHIRA
		PUNARTHAM  3/4
JULY / AUGUST	KARKKIDAKAM	PUNARTHAM1/4
		POOYAM
		AAYILYAM
AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER	CHINGAM	MAKAM
		POORAM
		UTHRAM 1/4
SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER	KANNI	UTHRAM3/4
		ATHAM
		CHITRA 1/2
OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER	THULAM	CHITRA 1/2
		CHOTHI
		VISHAKHAM  3/4
NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER	VRICHIKAM	VISHAKHAM 1/4
		ANIZHAM
		THRIKKETTA
DECEMBER/ JANUARY	DHANU	MOOLAM
		POORADAM
		UTHRADAM  ¼
JANUARY/ FEBRUARY	MAKARAM	UTHRADAM  3/4
		THIRUVONAM
		AVITTOM  1/2
FEBRUARY/  MARCH	KUMBAM	AVITTOM  1/2
		CHATHAYAM
		POORUTTATHI  3/4
MARCH /  APRIL	MEENAM	POORUTTATHI  1/4
		UTHRATTATHI
		REVATHI