Ludwigia perennis L.

 

Family – Onagraceae

Synonym – Jussiaea perennis (L.) Brenan 

Vernacular names – Neerkarayambu

Habit – Herb

Habitat – Waterlogged areas in grasslands

Distribution – Tropical Africa, Asia and Australia

Flowering and Fruiting – Throughout the year

Key Identification Features – These annual herbs are small, reaching up to 10 cm in height. They have linear to narrowly elliptic leaves, yellow petals, and thin-walled capsules that release brown seeds.

Uses - It exhibits various medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and immunomodulatory effects. Traditionally, it has been used for fever management and treating cuts and bruises.

Mirabilis jalapa L.

 

Family – Nyctaginaceae

Synonym – Mirabilis jalapa f. eujalapa Heimerl; Nyctago hortensis Dum.Cours.; Nyctago jalapae (L.) DC; Nyctago versicolor Salisb. 

Vernacular names – Anthimalari; Anthimandaram; Nalu-mani-chedi; Pantheeradi; Pathittadi

Habit – Herb

Habitat – Grown as garden plant and also found as escape

Distribution – Native of Peru; now cultivated in all Tropical regions

Flowering and Fruiting – August-April

Key Identification Features – It has large tuberous roots, semisucculent stems, and triangular-ovate leaves. The inflorescence consists of 3-7-flowered clusters with pink, white, or yellow funnel-shaped perianths. Stamens are exserted, and the fruit turns black when ripe.

Uses – It is a garden plant

Dendrophthoe falcate (L.f.) Ettingsh

 

Family – Loranthaceae

Synonym – Loranthus falcatus L.f.; Scurrula falcata (L.f.) G.Don 

Vernacular names – Chuvanna itthikkanni; Ithikkanni; Itthikkanni; Ithil; Kannirattinmelpulluni; Pullunni

Habit – Shrub

Habitat –  Moist and dry deciduous forests, also in the plains

Distribution – Indo-Malesia to Australia

Flowering and Fruiting – December-May

Key Identification Features – It is  parasitic shrub. It has a woody stem, thick leathery leaves, and curved racemes with many flowers. The corolla tube is pink or yellow, and the berry is crimson.

Uses - It treats conditions like pulmonary tuberculosis, asthma, and menstrual disorders. The plant lacks its own rooting system and relies on the host for nutrients.

Waltheria indica L.

 

Family – Sterculiaceae

Synonym – Waltheria americana var. indica (L.) K.Schum. 

Vernacular names – Shembudu; Sengalipoondu

Habit – Shrub

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

Distribution – Native of Tropical & Subtropical America

Flowering and Fruiting – October-January

Key Identification Features –It’s an erect, branching herb or under shrub with elliptic-ovate leaves covered in dense stellate hairs. The yellow flowers occur in clusters, and the capsule produces a single seed.

Uses - It has been used in traditional medicine for treating various conditions, including cough, diarrhea, and inflammation. The plant exhibits pharmacological properties such as antioxidant and analgesic effects.

Hibiscus lobatus (Murray) Kuntze

 

Family – Malvaceae

Synonym – Hibiscus abyssinicus Steud.; Hibiscus albus Wall.; Hibiscus lobatus var. sinuatus Hochr.; Hibiscus ochroleucus Baker 

Vernacular names – Lobed Leaf Mallow

Habit – Shrub

Habitat – Moist and dry deciduous forests

Distribution – Paleotropics

Flowering and Fruiting –  July-January

Key Identification Features – This shrub has broadly ovate, softly tomentose leaves. Its yellow flowers occur in panicles, and the fruit is a capsule with beaked mericarps containing numerous grey seeds. The sepals are fused at the base, forming a short campanulate tube.

Uses - It serves as an ornamental plant with large, pink flowers, works well as a hedge or ground cover, helps control erosion, and acts as a windbreak due to its dense foliage.

Rotala rotundifolia (Buch.-Ham. ex.Roxb.)

 

Family – Lythraceae

Synonym – Ameletia rotundifolia (Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.) Wight; Ammannia rotundifolia Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.; Mirkooa rotundifolia (Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.) Wight 

Habit – Herb

Habitat – Along streams and marshy areas in grasslands

Distribution – South and South East Asia and also in Japan

Flowering and Fruiting – September-March

Key Identification Features – This annual herb grows up to 15 cm tall, with reddish stems and simple, opposite leaves. Its racemes are 1-1.5 cm long, and the petals are obovate. Staminal filaments attach near the base of the calyx tube, and the ovary is ovoid.

Uses - It is a popular plant in aquascaping due to its vibrant red color and ease of growth. It’s commonly used for decoration, as a background plant, and even in-ground vegetation in planted aquariums.

Mitrasacme pygmaea R.Br.

 

Family – Loganiaceae

Synonym – No synonym

Habit – Herb

Habitat – Moist deciduous forests and exposed grassy places

Distribution – Indo-Malesia to Pacific Islands

Flowering and Fruiting – June-August

Key Identification Features –This small herb, with opposite leaves and white bell-shaped flowers, grows up to 5 cm tall. The ovary is rounded, and it produces ellipsoid seeds.

Uses – Not documented