Ipomoea aquatica{Water morning glory} -Indian forestry

Ipomoea aquatica {Water morning glory}

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Solanales
Family:	Convolvulaceae
Genus:	Ipomoea
Species:	I. aquatica
Binomial name
Ipomoea aquatica

• Water morning glory is a semi-aquatic tropical plant grow as leafy vegetable.
• Due to extensive cultivation,it is not known where it originated.Generally it is found in tropical and sub-tropical region.
• It grows on water and moist soil.

Common names:-

• English:Water Morning Glory, Swamp cabbage, aquatic morning glory, Chinese water spinach 
• Hindi: Nali, कलमी साग Kalmi sag
• Manipuri: কোলম্নী Kolamni 
• Marathi: नालीची भाजी Nalichi-bhaji
• Tamil: Sarkaraivalli 
• Telugu: Tutikura 
• Kannada: Chanthion
• Bengali: কলমী সাগ Kulmi sag 
• Oriya: Kalama saga
• Konkani: Takasi vel 
• Sanskrit: Karemu, Kalambi 

Diagonostics :-

Stem :-

• The stem of this plant is about 2-3 cm {7-10 ft} or more long.
• Rotting also start from the nodes.
• It is hollow so that it can float in water.

Leaves :-

Sagittate leaf

Lanceolate leaf

• Leaves of this plant vary from sagittate to lanceolate shape.
• It is 5-15 cm long and broad upto 2-8 cm.
• margin of the leaves are simple.

Flower:-

• The flower is trumpet shaped.
• 3-5 cm in diameter.
• The colour of water morning glory is white colour with a mauve{pale puple colour}.

Uses :-

• The plant recommended to use as a laxative in piles patients and other problems related to sleeplessness and headache.
• In Ayurveda (the traditional medicine) it is reported that oral administration of I. aquatica leaves leads to cure ailments such as jaundice, nervous debility.
• The plant is used in the treatment of liver diseases constipations.
• It is also used as fodder for animals.Also used by tribal people as vegetable.
• I. aquatica used as carminative agent{prevent formation of gas} and lessens inflammation.  
• It is effectively used against nosebleed and high blood pressure.

Broussonetia papyrifera (Paper Mulberry) - Description and Uses : Indian Forestry

PAPER MULBERRY

Broussonetia papyrifera

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Moraceae
Tribe:	Moreae
Genus:	Broussonetia
Species:	B. papyrifera

This species is a deciduous shrub which usually attains the height of about 10 to 20 meters tall, The leaves varies in shape, even on one individual. The leaf blades may be lobed or unlobed, but they usually have a rough texture. They are up to about 15 to 20 centimeters long. The species is DIOECIOUS (male and female flowers on separate plants).

USES OF PAPER MULBERRY

1. Cultivated in Asia for food and fibre.

2. Leaves are used to feed silkworms.

3. Had been used for the manufacturing of Paper.

4. Fruits are edible.

5. Furniture making.

ETHNOBOTANICAL USE OF PAPER MULBERRY

The Bark of the tree and the fruit is used for the treatment of constipation as well as to reduce fever by the tribal communities.

..........Ashutosh Lohani.

Argeratum conyzoides - CHEMICAL COMPOSITION & MEDICINAL USES : INDIAN FORESTRY

Ageratum conyzoides (Billygoat-weed, Chick weed, Goatweed, Whiteweed)

Scientific Classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Tribe:	Eupatorieae
Genus:	Ageratum
Species:	A. conyzoides

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF A. CONYZOIDES

There is high variability in the secondary metabolities of A. conzyoide which include flavonoids, alkaloids, cumarins, essential oils, and tannins. Many of these are biologically active. Essential oil yield varies from 0.02% to 0.16% (Jaccoud 1961). Vyas and Mulchandani (1984) identified conyzorigum, a cromene. Borthakur and Baruah (1986) identified precocene I and precocene II, in a plant collected in India. These compounds have been shown to affect insect development, as antijuvenile hormones, resulting in sterile adults (Borthakur and Baruah 1987). Ekundayo et al. (1988) identified 51 terpenoid compounds, including precocene I and precocene II. Gonzales et al. (1991) found 11 cromenes in essential oils, including a new cromene, 6-angeloyloky-7-methoxy-2,2-dimethylcromen. Vera (1993), in Reunion, found ageratocromene, other cromenes, and beta cariophylene in its essential oil. Mensah et al. (1993) and Menut et al. (1993) reported similar yields of precocene I in the essential oil of plants collected in Ghana.
Vyas and Mulchandani (1986), in India, identified flavones, including some considered new such as ageconyfavones A, B, and C. Horrie et al. (1993) reported hexametoxyflavone. Ladeira et al. (1987) in Brazil, reported three cumarinic compounds, including 1-2 benzopirone. The species contains alkaloids, mainly the pirrolizidinic group, which suggest that it may be a good candidate for pharmacological studies. Trigo et al. (1988) found several alkaloids, including 1,2- desifropirrolizidinic and licopsamine which can have hepatotoxic activity. Alkaloids also were found by Weindenfeld and Roder (1991) in a hexane extract of A. conyzoides in Africa.

ETHNOBOTANICAL USES OF A. CONYZOIDES

It is mainly used to cure cuts and wounds, and also used as an anti-dysentric,bacteriocide by the tribals.



.......
By Ashutosh Lohani.

Pseudocaryopteris bicolor

Pseudocaryopteris bicolor (Bluebeard)

Flowering - Feb - May.

Pseudocaryopteris
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lamiaceae
Genus:	Pseudocaryopteris (Briq.) P.D.Cantino

Also Known as Blue Bearded in English and Van Baasuti in Hindi.

Description:-

• Blue beard is an attractive, compact, mounding  shrub.
• The height of this plant is about 1-3m and bluish purple blooms.
• It is found is sub-tropical, outer Himalayas, from Pakistan to Bhutan , India and Bangladesh.

Characterstics:-

Leaves :-

Acuminate

• It is lance shaped to elliptic.
• It is accuminate, 4- 10 cm long, 1 - 2.5 cm broad.
• It is crenate - serrate, pubescent , shortly petiolate.

Flower:- 

• The flower of this plant is about 1.2-1.3 cm across.
• The colour of the flower may be Purple, blue or mauve (pale purple color)
• Sometimes white and bluish tinge are also there.
• Flower tube is about 1-1.2 cm long , limb 5 lobed and upper 4 oblong

Bracts:-

• Bracts of this flower is  2-2.5 mm long, linear, acute, velvety.

Taxacum officinale - Dandelion, Kanphool, Kukraundha : Description and Medicinal Uses

Taxacum officinale (COMMON DANDELION)

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Tribe:	Cichorieae
Genus:	Taraxacum
Species:	T. officinale Taxacum officinale

Taraxacum officinale is native to Europe and Asia,and was originally imported to America as a food crop.This species is a somewhat prolific seed producer, with 54 to 172 seeds produced per head, and a single plant can produce more than 5,000 seeds a year. It is estimated that more than 97,000,000 seeds/hectare could be produced yearly by a dense stand of dandelions.

It can be found growing in temperate regions of the world, in lawns, on roadsides, on disturbed banks and shores of water ways, and other areas with moist soils. T. officinale is considered a weed, especially in lawns and along roadsides, but it is sometimes used as a medicinal herb and in food preparation.

NOTE :-

 Common dandelion is well known for its yellow flower heads that turn into round balls of silver tufted fruits that disperse in the wind called "blowballs" or "clocks" 

BLOW-BALLS

SOME SIGNIFICANT USES OF DANDELION

The plant is known to have high medicinal value. It has been mentioned for its reliever properties in Arabian medical history records, Welsh Manuscripts and English Herbal literature written in the 17th century. The plants roots have been used by renowned herbalists as a tonic. It is known to increase secretion and urine. It also acts a placid purgative.
The root of the Dandelion is a registered drug in Canada and is primarily sold as a diuretic. The hepatoprotective effect of the plant is also known widely. It is also used as a mild laxative. The plant is also used to improve digestion and in increasing appetite. The milky latex that is extracted from the plant is used to relieve warts and as a mosquito repellant.
Dye colors yellow and green are obtained from the flowers of the plant. The caterpillars are also fed this herb.

ETHNOBOTANICAL USES OF DANDELION

• Bone Disorders: The high content of organic magnesium in the plant makes it very good for relieving bone disorders. The juice of the leave with carrot or turnip is used to relieve bone ailments.
• Liver and Gall Bladder ailments: Taraxacum Officinale is beneficial for relieving liver and bladder problems. It plays an important role in handling fat levels in the body. It also has properties that help in flushing toxins out of the body. Tea made of Dandelion is known for its benefits.
• General Debility: Taraxacum Officinale is a general body tonic that supports the waste disposal function of the human body. It helps in bowel movement and improves skin conditions.
• Urinary disorders: Dandelion Tea is used to relieve urinary dysfunctions. The tea of the plant is made from its flowers, fresh leaves and buds.
• Warts: Milk extracted from the cut of the Taraxacum Officinale if applied on warts is benefiting.

............By Ashutosh Lohani.

Daedlacanthus nervosus - Blue sage or Gulsham : Indian Forestry

Daedlacanthus nervosus (Gulsham)

FAMILY - Acanthaceae

Common Names 

Blue Sage (English) and Gulsham (Hindi).

DESCRIPTION

1. This plant is native to Himalayas.

2. Flowers are Blue coloured and occurs at the terminal spikes.

3. Flowering season is during Early winter season.

4. After 2,3 seasonal growths the plant eventually dies.

5. Usually 2 to 4 ft. tall.

6. Spreads through 1 to 2 ft.

....... By Ashutosh Lohani.

Reinwardtia indica {Basanti flower} - Indian forestry

Reinwardtia indica (Basanti flower)

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Linaceae
Genus:	Reinwardtia Dumort.
Species:	R. indica

Reinwardtia indica also known as "Yellow flax" in English ,"Basanti" in Hindi ,"Pyauli" in Nepali.

It belongs to the family of Linaceae mainly found in the Himalayas. One thing to be remember that at present(2016) it is the only genus of Reinwardtia i.e. it is a monotypic.

Story

This plant has a story of its name Pyauli. Pyauli is a name of a maiden who used to lives in the Forest of Himalayas. She was raised by the animal and her first contact with a person who is prince. He lived in the plains and  one day he travelled to mountain of Himalayas for Hunting expenditure.During Hunting he lost his way and came upon Pyauli. Overwhelmed by her unspoiled beauty and natural charm the hunter forgot his prey and immediately proposed  for marriage to Pyauli.She was natural loving person so she was reluctant to leave her home in the mountains but the prince persuaded  her with gifts and promise of a comfortable, luxurious life in his palace in plains. She soon grew to love him very much and there wedding was celebrated with lavish ceremonies and feast. but despite of all things , she retained her fresh and simple innocence. At the time passes , she gradually become ill and weak with her longing for home , though her beauty never waned. The prince summoned doctors to cure her but none of their medicine any effect. Taken away from the mountain she could not survive the heat and dust of the plains. When she finally died , Pyauli was cremated and prince carried her ashes  back to the mountains.This had been her final request and her ashes were scattered in the forests and meadows which had been her home. Where they fell, a bright yellow flower bloomed out of the dead leaves on the ground. These blossoms are called Pyauli in her memory. 

Description

Yellow flax is a erect to spreading , up to 1 m tall. It is also gazed by the animals.

Distribution

Yellow flax is found from Pakistan to SW China, at altitude up to 1800 m. it is common wild flower of north-India hill-station.

Characteristics

Flower:-

                   

• Flower of this plant is 2" wide .
• It is also described as being Fugacious (Corolla wither and fall off easily)
• Corolla composed of 5 petals cleverly overlapped and fused to form 2 cm tube.
• It has a fine reddish veins such lines are termed as nectar guide and nectar lines which is helpful to communicate with pollinating insects for where to go to find a  nectar reward.
• Emerging from the floral tubes are observed these curiously shaped green stigma on three styles nearly 2 cm in length. 

Leaves:-

• Leaves of this flower is elliptical to inverted lance-shaped.
• Leaves of this plant is simple leaf.

Root:-

Uses:-

• The yellow dye is made from flower which is used for dyeing the clothes and making paints.
• It is used in India traditional medicine for the treatment of paralysis.
• The crushed leaves and stems of the plant are used to heal a suppurating wound.