Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe

 

Family – Zingiberaceae

Synonym – Curcuma porphyrotaenia Zipp. ex K.Schum.; Curcuma raktakanta Mangaly & M.Sabu; Curcuma speciosa Link.; Zingiber truncatum Stokes 

Habit – Herb

Habitat – In coconut grooves and canal embankments

Distribution – South India (Kerala) (Endemic)

Flowering and Fruiting – April-May

Key Identification Features – The rhizome of this medium-sized plant is conical, greyish to yellow inside, with finger-shaped, branched tubers. The leaves are oblong-lanceolate, green, and puberulent below. The inflorescence features deep pink coma bracts and light pink flowers. The labellum is light yellow with a dark yellow band.

Uses – It’s used in food (especially in Indonesian and Indian cuisines), traditional medicine (for inflammation, pain, and skin ailments), and as an essential oil in perfumery.

Xyris indica L.

 

Family – Xyridaceae

Synonym – Ramotha vera Raf.; Xyris calocephala Miq.; Xyris capito Hance 

Habit – Herb

Habitat – Marshy areas

Distribution – Indo-Malesia

Flowering and Fruiting – August-November

Key Identification Features –This perennial herb has basal linear leaves, a terete scape, and subglobose brown flower heads. The yellow flowers are bisexual, and the plant has three stamens with hairy staminodes. The ovary is obovoid with a trifid style and capitate stigmas.

Uses – It to wetland ecosystems by supporting biodiversity and maintaining water quality.

 

Cayratia pedata (Lam.) Juss. ex Gagnep.

 

Family – Vitaceae

Synonym – Cayratia longzhouensis W.T.Wang; Cayratia pedata var. glabra Gamble; Cissus canarensis (Dalzell) Planch.; Cissus pedata Lam. 

Vernacular names – Corivalli; Odiyankurunnu; Tripadi

Habit – Climber

Habitat – Moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests, also in sacred groves in the plains

Distribution – Indo-Malesia

Flowering and Fruiting –  June-July

Key Identification Features – It’s a climbing shrub with hispid stems, ovate serrate leaves, and greenish flowers. The berries are subglobose, rusty tomentose, and contain ellipsoid seeds.

Uses – It has medicinal uses, including treating coughs, bronchitis, and joint pain. The leaves are astringents and have anti-arthritis activity.

Cissus latifolia Lam.

 

Family – Vitaceae

Synonym – Cissus gigantea Bedd.; Cissus wightii Planch.; Vitis gigantea (Bedd.) Bedd. 

Vernacular names – Chunnambuvalli; Narantha

Habit – Climber

Habitat – Moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests, also in the plains

Distribution – Peninsular India and Sri Lanka

Flowering and Fruiting – June-September

Key Identification Features – This large, climbing shrub has thick stems and glaucous branchlets. Its leaves are simple, alternate, and broadly ovate-cordate or orbicular, with serrated margins and bristly tips. The flowers appear in leaf-opposed cymes, with cupular calyx fringed on the margins. The greenish-white petals are hooded at the apex, and there are four stamens. The yellow disk is 4-lobed and adnate to the ovary. The ovoid, purplish berry contains a single seed.

Uses – It has been used in traditional medicine for conditions like weak bones, fractures, and asthma. It also serves as food for certain insect larvae.

Rotheca serrata (L.) Steane & Mabb.

 

Family – Verbenaceae

Synonym – Clerodendrum serratum var. amplexifolium Moldenke; Clerodendrum serratum var. glabrescens Moldenke; Clerodendrum serratum var. herbaceum (Roxb. ex Schauer) C.Y.Wu in; Clerodendrum serratum var. javanicum Hochr. 

Vernacular names – Cheruthekku; Kankabharnni; Kantani; Kattuppadappa; Kurukkutti; Napalu; Perikilam

Habit – Shrub

Habitat – Moist deciduous forests, also in the plains

Distribution – India, Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka

Flowering and Fruiting – August-December

Key Identification Features – This shrub grows up to 2m tall, with purplish stems and branches. Its leaves are broadly elliptic-ovate or obovate, serrated along the margins, and covered in fine hairs on the lower surface. The bluish flowers have unequal lobes, and the fruit is dark-purple and 4-lobed. Each fruit contains 2-4 globose seeds.

Duranta erecta L.

 

Family – Verbenaceae

Synonym – Duranta erecta var. alba (Mast.) Caro; Duranta erecta var. grandiflora (Moldenke) Caro; Duranta inermis L.; Duranta integrifolia Tod. 

Vernacular names – Duranta

Habit – Shrub

Habitat – Grown as garden plant, also getting naturalised

Distribution – Originally from Tropical America; now widespread throughout the world

Flowering and Fruiting – July-March

Key Identification Features – This shrub has spiny branches and simple, opposite leaves. The leaves are elliptic-ovate or obovate. Sometimes, the leaves are variegated with yellow. The flowers occur in simple or panicled racemes, both terminal and axillary. The corolla can be blue or violet, with or without two purplish stripes on the tube. The stamens are didynamous, and the ovary is globular with eight locules and eight ovules. The drupes are yellow or orange-yellow, globose, and completely enclosed by the fruiting calyx.

Uses – It is a garden plant

Solanum diphyllum L.

 

Family – Solanaceae

Synonym – Pseudocapsicum diphyllum (L.) Medik. 

Vernacular names – Two leaf Nightshade

Habit – Herb

Habitat – Grown as medicinal plant

Distribution – Native of Central America

Flowering and Fruiting –  January-June

Key Identification Features – This subshrub has elliptic to oblong leaves, white flowers, and orange-yellow fruits. The leaves are unequally paired, with a rounded apex and attenuated base. The corolla has five glabrous lobes, and the fruit contains yellow or tan reniform-discoid seeds.

Uses – It is cultivated for its ornamental foliage and bright yellow fruits. It has medicinal uses in Mexico but contains toxic alkaloids, so caution is advised.

Solanum viarum Dunal

 

Family – Solanaceae

Synonym – Solanum chloranthum DC. ; Solanum khasianum var. chatterjeeanum Sengupta ; Solanum viridiflorum Ruiz & Pav.

Vernacular names – Chruvazhuthina

Habit – Shrub

Habitat – Degraded evergreen forest areas

Distribution – Native of South America

Flowering and Fruiting – August-April

Key Identification Features – This pubescent shrub has recurved prickles up to 7 mm long. Its ovate leaves are irregularly shallowly lobed, sinuate, and densely tomentose on the lower surface. The flowers form cymes with 3 or 4 blooms, and the fruit is a yellow, globose berry measuring 3 cm across.

Uses -  It produces golf ball-sized fruits with yellow skin and reddish-brown seeds.

Scleromitrion diffusum (Willd.) R.J.Wang

 

Family – Rubiaceae

Synonym – Hedyotis diffusa Willd.; Oldenlandia diffusa (Willd.) Roxb. 

Vernacular names – Parpadakam; Parpadakapullu

Habit – Herb

Habitat – Degraded forest areas, also moist localities in the plains

Distribution – Tropical and Subtropical Asia and America

Flowering and Fruiting – August-November

Key Identification Features – These small diffuse herbs have narrow, linear leaves and white flowers. The flowers are axillary, solitary or in pairs, and the capsule contains minute, angular seeds.

Uses –Traditionally, it’s taken internally for coughs, asthma, and jaundice, and externally for snake bites and bruises. Modern research highlights its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and potential antitumor effects.

Oldenlandia herbacea (L.) Roxb.

 

Family – Rubiaceae

Synonym – Hedyotis herbacea L. 

Vernacular names – Monganampullu; Nonganampullu; Onathumba

Habit – Herb

Habitat – Grasslands and moist deciduous forests, also in the plains

Distribution – Tropical Africa and Asia

Flowering and Fruiting – July-December

Key Identification Features – This plant is a much-branched, erect herb with simple, opposite leaves. The flowers are either solitary or paired, and the capsule contains tiny, trigonous seeds.

Uses – It treats conditions like fever, asthma, and ulcers.

Ixora nigricans R.Br. ex Wight & Arn.

 

Family – Rubiaceae

Synonym – Ixora nigricans var. genuina Kurz ; Ixora nigricans var. typica Hochr.; Pavetta nigricans (R.Br. ex Wight & Arn.) Miq. 

Vernacular names – Mashagani; Udappu

Habit – Shrub

Habitat – Evergreen and semi-evergreen forests

Distribution – Indo-Malesia

Flowering and Fruiting – December-March

Key Identification Features – This shrub has glabrous young branches, elliptic-lanceolate shiny leaves, and white flowers with linear-oblong lobes. The fruit is globose, reaching up to 1 cm in size.

Uses – It has medicinal uses for treating dysentery and stomach disorders. Additionally, its hard wood is used in Hindu worship and Indian folk medicine.

Hexasepalum teres (Walter) J.H.Kirkbr.

 

Family – Rubiaceae

Synonym – Spermacoce shandongensis (F.Z.Li & X.D.Chen) Govaerts 

Vernacular names – Rough buttonweed

Habit – Herb

Habitat – Wasteland and scrub jungles in laterite hillocks

Distribution – Tropical America and Southern USA, now a weed in tropical Asia and Africa

Flowering and Fruiting – October-January

Key Identification Features – This herb has erect branched stems with woody bases. Its leaves are narrow, covered in stiff hairs, and have revolute margins. The flowers are pink and axillary, while the fruits split into two indehiscent mericarps. Seeds are reddish brown and reticulate.

Uses – It is a weed

Geophila repens (L.) I.M.Johnst.

 

Family – Rubiaceae

Synonym – Carinta repens (L.) L.B.Sm. & Downs; Geocardia repens (L.) Bakh.f.; Psychotria repens (L.) L.; Rondeletia repens L. 

Vernacular names – Karimutthil; Karinkudungal

Habit – Herb

Habitat – Semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests, also in sacred groves

Distribution – Pantropical

Flowering and Fruiting – October-April

Key Identification Features – This prostrate herb has simple, papery leaves with rounded or ovate shapes. Its white, funnel-shaped flowers have recurved lobes, and the scarlet berries contain plano-convex seeds. The plant’s stolon-like stems root at nodes, and its peduncles support solitary or few-flowered umbels. The calyx has short, persistent lobes, and the ovary is two-locular with one ovule per locule.

Uses – It has medicinal uses such as treating coughs and skin fungi. It can also be grown as a ground cover plant in shady areas.

Clematis zeylanica (L.) Poir.

 

Family – Ranunculaceae

Synonym – Atragene lobata Llanos; Naravelia lobata (Llanos) Merr.; Naravelia zeylanica var. roxburghii DC. 

Vernacular names – Chinamkettykody; Kuruppakodi; Karuppakodi; Poi-thalachi; Pozhuthalachi; Soothravalli; Thalavedanavalli; Vathamkodi; Vadakkodivalli

Habit – Climber

Habitat – Moist deciduous forests, also in the plains

Distribution – South East Asia

Flowering and Fruiting – October-April

Key Identification Features – This climbing shrub has densely villous stems, leaves, and buds. The leaves are 2-3-foliolate, elliptic-ovate, and pubescent beneath. The flowers are greenish-yellow, bisexual, and arranged in panicles. The fruit consists of many achenes with a feathery persistent style.

Uses - It has medicinal uses in Ayurveda, such as relieving headaches and toothaches. It’s also a climbing shrub with star-shaped blooms, making it a lovely addition to gardens and landscapes.

Setaria parviflora (Poir.) Kerguélen

 

Family – Poaceae

Synonym – Cenchrus polystachios (L.) Morrone 

Habit – Herb

Habitat – Abandoned cultivated lands

Distribution – Tropics and subtropics of America

Flowering and Fruiting – October-December

Key Identification Features – This perennial herb has bent stems rooted at the lower nodes. Its lanceolate leaves are pointed and slightly folded at the base. The flower clusters have backward-pointing, bearded bristles. The spikelets are ovate, with 5-nerved upper glumes. The inner bracts are crustaceous and rugose.

Uses - It serves as both livestock forage and an ornamental plant. It’s grazed moderately by livestock during spring and summer, but becomes unpalatable in the fall. As an ornamental, it adds greenery to gardens. Birds also consume its seeds.

Polytrias indica (Houtt.) Veldkamp

 

Family – Poaceae

Synonym – Polytrias amaura var. nana (Keng & S.L.Chen) S.L.Chen; Ischaemum indicum (Houtt.) Merr.; Phleum indicum Houtt.

Vernacular names – Chenkodipullu

Habit – Herb

Habitat – Moist grasslands and forest margins

Distribution – Australia, south-east Asia and India, Naturalized in tropical America

Flowering and Fruiting – October-November

Key Identification Features – It is a perennial herb with tufted culms, linear-lanceolate leaves (4-20 cm long), and densely ciliate joints. Its sessile spikelets are oblong or obovate, awned, and have a lower glume with winged sides.

Uses - It has various uses, including as animal food, for medicinal purposes, and in environmental contexts.

Heteropogon contortus (L.) P.Beauv. ex.

 

Family – Poaceae

Synonym – Andropogon contortus L.; Heteropogon contortus var. hirtus Hack.; Heteropogon hirtus Pers.; Holcus contortus (L.) Stuck.; Sorghum contortum (L.) Kuntze 

Vernacular names – Oosipullu; Shoolampullu

Habit – Herb

Habitat – Grasslands and wastelands

Distribution – Cosmopolitan

Flowering and Fruiting – October-December

Key Identification Features – This perennial herb has erect or geniculate culms, reaching 30-90 cm in height. Its leaves are linear-lanceolate, and the raceme consists of both homogamous and heterogamous spikelets. The awns form a twisted spire. The plant’s characteristics include male florets, feathery stigmas, and densely hairy, contorted tips on the awns.

Uses – It serves as valuable pasture species, ornamental plant, ground cover for erosion control, and a source of fiber for mats and thatching.

 

Plumbago auriculata Lam.

 

Family – Plumbaginaceae

Synonym – Plumbago alba Pasq.; Plumbago auriculata f. alba (Pasq.) T.H.Peng 

Vernacular names – Neelakoduveli

Habit – Shrub

Habitat – Grown as garden plant

Distribution – Native of South Africa

Flowering and Fruiting – November-April

Key Identification Features – This plant is an erect or scandent shrub, growing up to 1.5 meters tall. Its leaves are simple, alternate, and obovate to spathulate, with glabrous undersides. The racemes are terminal. The corolla is pale blue or occasionally white, with a narrow tube and spreading lobes. There are five slightly exserted stamens.

Uses – It’s applied externally to wounds, acts as an analgesic, and is used in traditional medicine. This beautiful plant with blue flowers is commonly grown in tropical gardens as an ornamental .