Biophytum reinwardtii (Zucc.) Klotzsch.

 

Family: Oxalidaceae

Synonym: Oxalis gracilenta Kurz.

Vernacular name: Mukkutti, Theendanazhi

Habit: Herb

Habitat: Western Ghats, Evergreen Forests

Distribution: Southeast Asia

Flowering and Fruiting: July-December

Key identification features: This herb has a simple rosette of leaves at the top of the stem. When touched, the leaflets exhibit sensitivity, closing together upwards. The leaflets themselves are either subsessile The herb produces flowers in peduncled pseudumbels, The petals are free  and later adhere for two-thirds of their length above the free bases. Petal colors can range from white to creamy yellow or pinkish-mauve, with a yellow base. Fruit is a capsule.

Uses: treat ailments such as fever, pain, digestive disorders, respiratory conditions, and skin ailments.

Oxalis corniculata L.

 

Family: Oxalidaceae

Synonym: Xanthoxalis corniculata (L.) Small 

Vernacular name: Kottampulichan, Poliyarala, Pulichan, Pulichappadi, Pulisanthala,

Habit: Herb

Habitat: Forests, grasslands, moist places, irrigation channels

Distribution:   Indian Subcontinent to Japan and Philippines

Flowering and Fruiting: June-October

Key identification features: This prostrate herb has a creeping stem that roots at lower nodes. Its leaves are digitately 3-foliolate. The leaflets are broadly obcordate. The yellow flowers can be found either solitary or in axillary umbels. The stamens occur in two rows. The capsules are linear, and have a puberulous exterior with numerous seeds.

Uses: Consumed for its rich content of Vitamin C. It is also used in the treatment of influenza, fever, urinary tract infections, traumatic injuries etc

Averrhoa carambola L.

 

Family: Oxalidaceae

Synonym: Sarcotheca philippica (Fern.-Vill.) Hallier f. 

Vernacular name: Aanappulinchakka, Anappulinchi, Chathurapuli, Karambola,

Habit: Tree

Habitat:Cultivated,sometimes escaping to roadsides and secondary open forests

Distribution:  Cultivated in tropics

Flowering and Fruiting: May-August

Key identification features: This tree grows up to 12m tall and has drooping branches. The leaves are scattered along the branches. Each leaf has 3-6 pairs of leaflets. The inflorescences emerge from the axils of the leaves and are rarely found on the branches. The fruits are ovoid to ellipsoid and have a shining, yellowish-green color.

Use:     Fruit is used to treat chickenpox, intestinal parasites, headaches, and other illnesses. Star fruit contains oxalate, too much of which can be dangerous

Averrhoa bilimbi L.

 

Family:  Oxalidaceae

Synonym:   Averrhoa abtusangulata Stokes

Vernacular name: Bilibi, Bilimbi, Chemmeenpuli, Chimbili, Irumbampuli, Keerichakka,

Habit: Tree

Habitat: Garden plant

Distribution:Cultivated in tropics

Flowering and Fruiting: Throughout the year

Key identification features: It is an evergreen tree that grows up to 10 m tall. Its leaves typically form tufts at the tips of branches and each leaf has 5-19 pairs of leaflets.  The tree produces cauliflorous panicles that emerge from tubercles on the main trunk. The individual flowers are solitary and erect. The fruits are cylindric, obtuse, and obtusely angled.

Use: The leaves are used as a paste against itches, eaten against syphilis, and the leaves are used against mumps, rheumatism, pimples, and piles.