Indigofera tinctoria L.

 

Scientific Name: Indigofera tinctoria L.

Family: Fabaceae

Synonym: Anil tinctoria (L.) Kuntze

Vernacular name: Amari, Neelayamari, Neelichedi, Nilam, Vellaamari

Habit: Undershrub

Habitat: Degraded forest areas and waste places Flowering & Fruiting: August-January 

Distribution: Pantropical

Key identification features: True Indigo is an erect shrub. Leaves are compound. Flowers are borne in ra-cemes laxly flowered; Flowers are red. Seeds are 5-12 per legume, cubic,

 

Tribal Consumers: Adiya

Uses: The leaves are used as Shampoo and also used for massaging the head. Leaves are also used against hair fall and headache.

Holigarna arnottiana Hook.f.

 

Scientific Name: Holigarna arnottiana Hook.f.

Family: Anacardiaceae

Synonym: Katou-tsjeroe arnottianum (Hook.f.) Kuntze 

Vernacular name: Chera, Cheru, Charu, Kattuchera, Karinchru 

Habit: Tree

Habitat: Semi-evergreen and Evergreen forests, also in the plains

Flowering & Fruiting: January-July

Distribution: Endemic to Southern Western Ghats

Key identification features: Large trees. Leaves simple, obovate, or oblanceolate, leathery with a pair of deciduous spurs on the petiole. Inflorescence panicle with a pale golden brown tomentum. Fruit elliposoidal drupe, pedicelled, almost entirely included in the torus.

 

Tribal Consumers: Adiya

Uses: Traditionally, its bark and resin are also used in local medicine for treating wounds and inflammation.

 

Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R. Br.

 

Scientific Name: Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R. Br.

Family: Apocynaceae

              Synonym: Periploca indica L.

Vernacular name: Nannaari, Kappikodi, Naruneendi, Paravalli, Sarsaparilla

              Habit: Climber

              Habitat: Deciduous forests and scrub jungles, also in the plains

              Distribution: India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan

             Flowering and Fruiting: September-June

              Key identification features: Slender twiner with woody rootstock; stem brownish. Leaves very variable, opposite or in whorls, often variegated, elliptic-oblong to linear-lanceolate. Flowers few, subsessile, in short, axillary cymes. Stamens 5, anthers jointed at apex, appendaged. Follicles cylindric; coma white.

Tribal Consumers: Adiya

 

Uses: Hemidesmus indicus is valued in traditional medicine for its detoxifying properties and use in treating skin disorders, respiratory issues, and digestive problems. Additionally, its roots are used to prepare beverages and herbal remedies, often praised for their health benefits.

 

Helicteres isora L.

 

     

  

        Scientific Name: Helicteres isora L.

        Family: Sterculiaceae

        Synonym: Helicteres baruensis var. ovata DC.

        Vernacular name: Edampiri-Valampiri, Eeswaramoori, Kaivum, Kayinaru, Kayivoolam

        Habit: Shrub

        Habitat: Deciduous forests, also in plantations and plains 

       Distribution: Indo-Malesia, China and Australia 

       Flowering and Fruiting: September-March

Key identification features: Large shrubs or small trees; bark pale greyish. Leaves obovate to suborbicular, irregularly crenate-serrate. Flowers axillary, solitary or in few-flowered cymes; calyx tubular. Petals unequal, crimson. Follicles spirally twisted, stellate-tomentose. Seeds 2-3 mm long, angular, black, wrinkled.

 

Tribal Consumers: Adiya

Uses: Helicteres isora is used to treat digestive issues, such as diarrhea and dysentery, thanks to its antibacterial properties. The plant's leaves and bark are often used in herbal remedies, while its fruit can also be consumed. Additionally, Helicteres isora is recognized for its role in improving skin health and reducing inflammation.

 

Glycosmis pentaphylla (Retz.) DC.

 

                                              

                                   

        Scientific Name: Glycosmis pentaphylla (Retz.) DC.

        Family: Rutaceae

        Synonym: Limonia pentaphylla Retz.

         Vernacular name: Kurumpannal, Kuttippannel, Panal, Panchi

         Habit: Shrub

         Habitat: Semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests, also in the plains

         Distribution: India, Sri Lanka to Southeast Asia and Malesia.

         Flowering and Fruiting: September-April

          Key identification features: Small erect shrubs with elliptic-lanceolate, glandular leaflets. Flowers occur in terminal and axillary panicles. The ovoid berry starts white, turning pink as it matures, usually containing one to two seeds.

         Tribal Consumers: Adiya

        Uses: Glycosmis pentaphylla is valued for its edible fruit, which is rich in vitamins and often used in local cuisines. The leaves and roots are used against fever.

                     

Glinus oppositifolius (L.) Aug.DC.

 

        Scientific Name: Glinus oppositifolius (L.) Aug.DC.

Family: Molluginaceae

Synonym: Glinus cambessedesii Fenzl Vernacular name: Kaippujeerakam 

Habit: Herb

Habitat: Terrestrial

Distribution: Tropics and Subtropics of Old World

Flowering and Fruiting: November-April

Key identification features: It is an annual prostrate herb, diffuse and sub-succulent, highly branched with thin stems. The flowers are small, whitish in colour. The fruit is an ellipsoid capsule slightly shorter than the tepals.

 

Tribal Consumers: Adiya

Uses: Glinus oppositifolius is widely recognized in traditional medicine for its health benefits. It is used to treat digestive issues, fever, skin conditions, and as a remedy for wounds due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. The herb is also known to support liver health and aid in the management of diabetes.

 

Garuga pinnata Roxb.

              Scientific Name: Garuga pinnata Roxb.

               Family: Burseraceae

               Synonym: Garuga kenghar Buch.-Ham., Garuga pharhad Buch.-Ham. 

             Vernacular name: Annakkara, Eechakkara, Kattukalasam, Kattunelli, Kosramba 

              Habit: Tree

Habitat: Moist deciduous forests, also in the plains

Distribution: Indo-Malesia

Flowering and Fruiting: January-August

Key identification features: Deciduous trees; bark grey or brown, shallowly furrowed. Leaves crowded at branchlet tips. Flowers yellow, in axillary panicles; calyx tomentose; petals thickened and inflexed. Fruit a drupe, greenish-yellow, horned; seed one, with a membranous wing.

Tribal Consumers: Adiya

Uses: Garuga pinnata is used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties to treat various ailments, including fevers and respiratory issues. 

Garcinia gummi-gutta (L.) N.Robson

            

             

               Scientific Name: Garcinia gummi-gutta (L.) N.Robson

               Family: Clusiaceae

Synonym: Cambogia gummi-gutta L.

Vernacular name: Gorakkapuli, Kodampuli, Marapuli, Meenpuli, Perumpuli

Habit: Tree

Habitat: Along streams in evergreen and semi-Evergreen forests

Distribution: India, Sri Lanka

Flowering and Fruiting: January-August

Key identification features: Trees with outer bark reddish brown, lenticellate; branches drooping. Leaves narrow elliptic to obovate. Flowers polygamous, in clusters; calyx cream; petals pink. Berry globose, grooved; many-seeded.

 

Tribal Consumers: Adiya

Uses: Garcinia gummi-gutta is popular for its fruit rind, which is used as a natural weight management aid by reducing appetite and supporting metabolism. It is also used in cooking for its tangy flavor, especially in curries. Additionally, it has traditional uses in relieving digestive issues and promoting gut health.

Flacourtia montana J.Graham

 

Scientific Name: Flacourtia montana J.Graham

Family: Flacourtiaceae

Vernacular name: Chalirpazham, Charalmaram, Charalpazham, Kattuloika, Muripacha

Habit: Tree

Habitat: Evergreen and semi-evergreen forests

Distribution: India

Flowering & Fruiting: February-October

Key identification features: Leaves ovate, acuminate or acute, base acute or rounded, crenate, glabrous except the midrib below. Capsule orange-yellow.

Tribal Consumers: Adiya

Uses: Flacourtia montana, is known for its edible fruits and medicinal bark. The fruits are rich in vitamin C and consumed as a nutritious snack, while the bark has been used traditionally to treat skin conditions and reduce fever. This plant is also valued for its anti-inflammatory properties, making it useful in herbal remedies.

Ficus racemosa L.

 

       

        Scientific Name: Ficus racemosa L.

Family: Moraceae

Synonym: Covellia glomerata (Roxb.) Miq.

Vernacular name: Athi, Atteeka, Atthi, Country fig, Crattock, Gular fig.

Habit: Tree

Habitat: lowland, tropical forests

Distribution: Indo-Malesia to Australia and China.

Flowering & Fruiting: January - July

Key identification features: These deciduous trees grow up to 30 m tall with buttressed trunks. Their bark is reddish-brown or yellowish-brown, smooth yet coarsely flaky. Leaves are simple, membranous, and blistered when dried. Male and female flowers occur, with male flowers being sessile and compressed, while female flowers are stalked among gall flowers. The figs varying in color from orange to pink or dark crimson .

Tribal Consumers: Adiya

 Uses: Ficus racemosa is commonly used in traditional medicine for its health benefits. Its bark, fruits, and leaves help manage digestive issues, respiratory problems, and skin infections due to their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. This plant is also known for its potential in controlling blood sugar levels.

 

Ficus hispida L. f.

 

        

        Scientific Name: Ficus hispida L. f.

        Family: Moraceae

        Synonym: Covellia hispida (L.f.) Miq.

        Vernacular name: Erumanakku, Kattatthi, Parakam, Thonditherakam, Valliteragam

        Habit: Tree

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

        Distribution: India, China, Malaysia, Sri Lanka

        Flowering and Fruiting: September-May

         Key identification features: Shrubs to medium-sized trees with brownish bark provides protection and structural support. Leaves are simple, opposite decussate. These leaves have an elliptic-oblong shape. Inflorescences called syconia contain clustered, globose flowers. Notably, these flowers are unisexual.

       Tribal Consumers: Adiya 

Uses: Ficus hispida is utilized in traditional medicine for its health benefits. Its leaves and fruits are believed to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, making them effective in treating skin conditions, digestive issues, and respiratory problems. Additionally, the plant is used to support overall immune health.

Erythrina variegata L.

 

Scientific Name: Erythrina variegata L.

Family: Fabaceae

Synonym: Chirocalyx candolleanus Walp. 

Vernacular name: Kalyana, Mullumurukku, Murukku 

Habit: Tree

Habitat: Dry deciduous forests, widely grown as pepper stand and for fencing

Distribution: Indo-Malesia, China and Africa

Flowering and Fruiting: March-April

Key identification features: Deciduous tree with yellowish-green bark, smooth, peeling off in flakes; trifoliate leaves, alternate. Bright red flowers in dense racemes. Torulose fruit, dehiscent; seeds 6-8.

 

Tribal Consumers: Adiya

 Uses: Erythrina variegata leaves and flowers are used in traditional medicine for their potential anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. 

Eryngium foetidum L.

 

Scientific Name: Eryngium foetidum L.

Family: Apiaceae

Synonym: Eryngium antihystericum Rottler. 

Vernacular name: Long Coriander, Mexican coriander 

Habit: Herb

Habitat: Cosmopilitian

Distribution: India, Indigenous to America, Introduced in Africa, Asia.

Flowering and Fruiting: August-December

Key identification features: Perennial aromatic herbs, tuberous roots, dichotomously branched stems. Simple leaves, oblanceolate-spathulate, spinous-toothed margin;. White flowers in oblong-cylindrical umbels. Ellipsoid fruit.

Tribal Consumers: Adiya

 

Uses: Eryngium foetidum has traditional medicinal uses for treating digestive problems and respiratory ailments due to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

Emilia sonchifolia (L.) DC.

 

Scientific Name: Emilia sonchifolia (L.) DC.

Family: Asteraceae

Synonym: Cacalia sonchifolia L.

Vernacular name: Elichevianveru, Mulshevi, Muyalchevian

Habit: Herb

Habitat: Dry and moist deciduous forests, also in the plains

Flowering & Fruiting: July-December

Distribution: Tropical and Subtropical Africa and Asia

Key identification features: Erect or diffuse herbs. Leaves radical and cauline. Heads homogamous, not rayed, 1-3 on long slender peduncles. Florets bisexual. Corolla pink. Achenes 5-ribbed, hispid. Pappus white silky

Tribal Consumers: Adiya

Uses: Emilia sonchifolia is used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, often to treat skin ailments and promote wound healing. Additionally, it is valued for its potential benefits in digestive health and as a natural remedy for respiratory conditions.

 

Elephantopus scaber L.

 

Scientific Name: Elephantopus scaber L.

Family: Asteraceae 

Vernacular name: Anayatiyan Habit: Herb

Habitat: Shady forests, Often on open slopes, roadsides or forest margins in valleys

Flowering & Fruiting: May-October

Distribution: Tropical & Subtropical Old World

Key identification features: Herbs; whole plant scabrous. Leaves radical, rosetted at base, obovate to oblong or oblanceolate. Heads, homogamous, non-rayed, sessile, aggregated in dense, stalked glomerules, substened by 3 ovate, reduced leaves. Flowers 2-5, bisexual. Corolla purple or white. Stamens 5, auricled at base. Ovary oblong; style arms subulate. Achenes 10-ribbed; pappus of 4-6 spiny bristles.

Tribal Consumers: Adiya

Uses: Elephantopus scaber is used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties to alleviate pain and treat conditions like fevers and respiratory issues. Additionally, it is valued for its potential in wound healing and as a natural remedy for various gastrointestinal ailments.