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Herbs & Plants

Nagkeshor (Couroupita guianensis)

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Botanical Name : Couroupita guianensis
Family: Lecythidaceae
Genus: Couroupita
Kingdom: Plantae
Order:
Ericales
Species: C. guianensis
Common Names
: Ayahuma, Cannonball Tree.(The Cannonball Tree was given its species name Couroupita guianensis by the French botanist J.F. Aublet in 1755.), boskalebas, coco de mono, abricó de macaco, castanha de macaco, cuia de macaco, macacarecuia, sala tree, kanonenkugelbaum.
Indian Name s:Nagkeshor,Shiv Kamal,Nagalingam tree,

Habitat : Native to tropical northern South America and to the southern Caribbean. In India it has been growing for the past two or three thousand years at least, as attested by textual records; hence it is possible that it is native to India also.


Description:

A large deciduous tropical tree 90′ tall and indigenous to the Amazon rainforest.  The leaves, up to 6″ long, are simple with serrate margin; it flowers in racemes; the yellow, reddish and pink flowers are stunning fragrant.  These are large 3″ to 5″ waxy aromatic smelling, pink and dark-red flowers, growing directly on the bark of the trunk (cauliflory).
Pollination is done by bees and bats.  The tree bears, also directly on the trunk and main branches, large globose woody fruits; they look like big rusty cannonballs hanging in clusters, like balls on a string.  The fruit contains small seeds in a white, unpleasant smelling edible jelly, which are exposed when the upper half of the fruit goes off like a cover.
The long dangling fruity branches give the tree an unkempt appearance.  The hard shells are used to make containers and utensils.
Click to see the picture..

Flower

The “Cannonball Tree” is so called because of its brown cannon-ball-like fruits. The majority of these trees outside their natural environment have been planted as a botanical curiosity, as they grow very large, distinctive flowers. Its flowers are orange, scarlet and pink in color, and form large bunches measuring up to 3m in length. They produce large spherical and woody fruits ranging from 15 to 24cm in diameter, containing up to 200 or 300 seeds apiece.

Flowers and pollinationClick to see the picture
Cannonball Tree flowers do not have nectar, so these flowers are mainly visited by bees in search of pollen; outside the native range of habitat, carpenter bees are considered to be the principal pollinators. Both the fruit and the flower grow from stalks which sprout from the trunk of the tree. Cannonball Tree flowers are found on thick tangled extrusions that grow on the trunk of the tree; these are found just below the foliage branches. The extrusions however, can range from two to six feet in length. The flowers are attached to an upwardly bent, white fleshy disk. The flowers have six petals, which are large, orange-red, and strongly perfumed. In pollination, fertile stamens can be found in a ring around reduced style and stamens. The sterile pollen is located in the anthers. As a bee enters to pollinate the flower, its back rubs against the ring with fertile pollen; this allows the bee to carry the fertile pollen to another flower. The differences in the pollen was noticed by French botanist Antoine Porteau in 1825. The differences in the pollen are as follows: the pollen of the ring stamens is fertile, while the hood pollen is sterile.

Propagation

Seeds.
Due to recalcitrant nature of the seeds, they have a short viable life, can not be dried well and can not withstand low temperatures.

Fruits and dispersal…..Click to see the picture.
The tree gets its common name from the large, spherical fruits it produces. The fruit falls from the tree and cracks open when it hits the ground when mature, often causing the sound of a small explosion. The fruit emits an unpleasant aroma when exposed to the air. Individual seeds within the “ball” are coated with hair, which is thought to protect the seed when it is ingested and may also help in the passage of the seed through the intestines. Like coconut palms, the trees should not be planted near paths or near traffic-filled areas, as the heavy nut is known to fall without notice.

Religious Significance in Asia
The trees are grown extensively in Shiva temples in India. In Hindi it is called Shiv Kamal. It is called the Nagalingam tree in Tamil. In Bengali, it is called Nagkeshar. The flowers are called Shivalinga flowers in Hindi; Nagalinga Pushpa in Kannada; Nagamalli flowers or Mallikarjuna flowers in Telugu. Hindus revere it as a sacred tree because the petals of the flower resemble the hood of the Naga, a sacred snake, protecting a Shiva Lingam, the stigma.

In Sri Lanka, Thailand and other Buddhist countries the tree is often planted at Buddhist temples. It is here mistaken as the Sala tree, Shorea robusta, the tree under which the Buddha passed away and under which the previous Buddha Vessabhu attained enlightenment.


Medicinal Uses

The fruit pulp, bark and flowers are used for medicinal applications and have  antibiotic, antifungal, antiseptic and analgesic qualities. The trees are used to cure colds and stomach aches. Juice made from the leaves is used to cure skin diseases, and shamans of South America have even used tree parts for treating malaria. The inside of the fruit can disinfect wounds and young leaves ease toothache.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Couroupita_guianensis
http://www.tropilab.com/couroupita.html

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Herbs & Plants

Thevetia peruviana (Kolke ful)

Botanical Name :Thevetia    peruviana
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Thevetia
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Gentianales
Species: T. peruviana
Common Names:Kolkeful(Bengal), Mexican oleander, Yellow Oleander, Lucky Nut

Habitat :Thevetia peruviana is a plant probably native to Mexico and Central America and a close relative to Nerium oleander.

Description:
It is an evergreen tropical shrub or small tree that bears yellow or orange-yellow, trumpet like flowers and its fruit is deep red/black in color encasing a large seed that bears some resemblance to a Chinese “lucky nut.”

YOU MAY CLICK TO SEE THE PICTURE>...(01).…(2)..…..Yellow Oleander (Thevetia peruviana) leaves & flowers……...leaves & flower buds…….tree trunk.……...leaves & flowers

It contains a milky sap containing a compound called thevetin that is used as a heart stimulant but in its natural form is extremely poisonous, as are all parts of the plants, especially the seeds. Its leaves are long, lance shaped and green in colour. Leaves are covered in waxy coating to reduce water loss (typical of oleanders). Its stem is green turning silver/gray as it ages.

Cultivation & Propagation:

*Exposure: part, full, or reflected sun; revels in heat
*Water: ample is best
*Soil: improved garden soil with good drainage

Maintenance: low; periodic pruning and litter cleanup; training when young to tree if desired

Can be grown as shrub or tree outside in warmer climates but in frost prone areas best brought back inside for winter. Will tolerate most kinds of soil as long as they are well drained and is situated in full sun in a sheltered area. Useful as a landscaping plant in warmer climates as it does not need much maintenance.


Propagation:

Propagate by seed in spring (clean seed coat in a glass containing 10% bleach 90% warm water for 2-3min; after wash seed and soak in warm water for 24h). Can also propagate from cuttings in spring-early summer with hardwood cuttings. For both use a seed/cutting compost that contains perlite.


Medicinal Uses:

The toxins are cardenolides called Thevetin A and Thevetin B (Cerebroside), others include peruvoside, neriifolin, thevetoxin and ruvoside. These cardenolides are not destroyed by drying or heating and they are very similar to digoxin from Digitalis purpurea. They produce gastric and cardiotoxic effects. Antidotes for treatment include atropine and Digoxin antibodies and treatment may include oral administration of activate charcoal.

These toxins have also been experimented for use in pest control.

You may click to see :
Oleander (Nerium oleander, Thevetia peruviana)

Other Uses:
This plant is used for land scaping for it’s luxuriant tropical effect’ ,long-lasting color , against hot walls, patios, entryways


Toxicity:

These plants are toxic to most vertebrates as they contain cardiac glycosides. Many cases of intentional and accidental poisoning of humans are known. A few bird species are however known to feed on them without any ill effects. These include the Asian Koel, Red-whiskered Bulbul, White-browed Bulbul, Red-vented Bulbul, Brahminy Myna, Common Myna and Common Grey Hornbill.

Click to see : Toxicity of Thevetia peruviana

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thevetia_peruviana
http://ag.arizona.edu/pima/gardening/aridplants/Thevetia_peruviana.html
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Apocynaceae/Thevetia_peruviana.html

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News on Health & Science

Aspirin ‘Helps Protect Against Bowel Cancer’

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A daily aspirin tablet may help prevent bowel cancer, a study suggests.

Oxford University found it cut cases by a quarter and deaths by more than a third in a review of 14,000 patients.

Aspirins are already widely used to help protect people against strokes and heart problems, although many healthy middle-aged people do not take them because of the risk of side-effects.

But researchers said their findings – published by the Lancet – “tipped the balance” in favour of taking them.

They followed up four study groups over a period of 20 years to identify the impact of regular small doses of of the drug – the tablets given for medical reasons are often a quarter of a strength of those used to treat headaches.

They found it reduced the risk of the incidence of bowel cancer by 24% and of dying from the disease by 35%.

And even though regular aspirin use can have side-effects, the researchers said it was still worthwhile as on such low doses these tended to be relatively minor, such as bruising or nose bleeds.

One in 20 people in the UK develops bowel cancer over their lifetime, making it the third most common cancer. About 16,000 people die each year as a result of it.

The findings build on previous research on the issue, and come after the government announced earlier this month it was looking to start a new screening programme for bowel cancer for 55-year-olds.

Lead researcher Professor Peter Rothwell said the screening would provide the perfect opportunity for doctors to discuss with their patients about whether to take aspirin.
He said:-“To date, for healthy middle-aged people it has been a fine balance as to whether to take aspirins, but this tips it in my view.

“There is a small benefit for vascular disease and now we know a big benefit for this cancer. In the future, I am sure it will be shown that aspirin helps prevent other cancers too.”

‘Talk to GP

He added those with a high risk of bowel cancer, including the obese and those with a family history of the disease, should give aspirin treatment a particular consideration.

Mark Flannagan, chief executive of Beating Bowel Cancer, said they were “very positive” findings and giving aspirin alongside the new screening programme should be looked at.

But he added: “Anyone considering starting a course of medication should first consult their GP.”

You may click to see :Bowel cancer risk gene pinpointed

Source : BBC News

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Herbs & Plants

Quisqualis indica(Madhobilata)

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Botanical Name :Quisqualis indica
Family: Combretaceae
Genus: Quisqualis
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Myrtales
Species: Q. indica
Common Names : Madhumalati,Madhobilata, Chinese honeysuckle, Rangoon Creeper, Drunken sailor
Other names : Quiscual (in Spanish), Niyog-niyogan (in Filipino), Madhu Malti or Madhumalti (in Hindi) and Radha Manoharam (in Telugu).

Habitat :Quisqualis indica is native of Asia. It is found in many other parts of the world either as a cultivated ornamental or run wild.It is found in thickets or secondary forests of the Philippines, India and Malaysia. It has since been cultivated and naturalized in tropical areas.

Description:
The Rangoon Creeper is a ligneous vine that can reach from 2.5 meters to up to 8 meters. The leaves are elliptical with an acuminate tip and a rounded base. They grow from 7 to 15 centimeters and their arrangement is opposite. The flowers are fragrant and tubular and their color varies from white to pink to red. The 30 to 35 mm long fruit is ellipsoidal and has five prominent wings. The fruit tastes like almonds when mature. The niyog-niyogan is usually dispersed by water.

click & see the pictures
You may click to see more pictures

Cultivation:
You may click to see :How to Grow this Plant:http://www.backyardgardener.com/plantname/pda_0858.html

Propagation: Seed, often water-dispersed. “It spreads by root suckers as well as by seed”


Medicinal Uses:

The plant is mainly used for traditional medicine. Decoctions of the root, seed or fruit can be used as antihelmintic to expel parasitic worms or for alleviating diarrhea. Fruit decoction can also be used for gargling. The fruits are also used to combat nephritis. Leaves can be used to relieve pain caused by fever. The roots are used to treat rheumatism.

The seeds of this and related species, Q. fructus and Q. chinensis, contain the chemical quisqualic acid, which is an agonist for the AMPA receptor, a kind of glutamate receptor in the brain. The chemical is linked to excitotoxicity (cell death)

You may click to see :
Fragrance Use of Quisqualis Indica :

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
http://www.hear.org/pier/species/quisqualis_indica.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quisqualis_indica

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SLoOMOyPVLw/SAydBaRfpuI/AAAAAAAABJw/08DJCCwpqMY/s1600-h/madhava+lata.bmp

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Herbs & Plants

Kanchan (Bauhinia acuminata)

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Botanical Name :Bauhinia acuminata
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Genus: Bauhinia
Tribe: Cercideae
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fabales
Species: B. acuminata
Common names :Dwarf White Bauhinia, White Orchid-tree and Snowy Orchid-tree,
Mountain Ebony
Indian Name :Kanchan

Habitat : Native to tropical southeastern Asia. The exact native range is obscure due to extensive cultivation, but probably from Malaysia, Indonesia (Java, Borneo, Kalimantan, Lesser Sunda Islands), and the Philippines. It grows on  open valleys with good loamy soil at elevations of 150 – 1800 metres.
.

Description:
Semi-deciduous large shrub or small tree with white butterfly-like flowers, everblooming (Flower season: Spring through fall). Drought tolerant. Bauhinia acuminata is very sensitive to cold wind; while similar looking Bauhinia racemosa (with pointed petals) is hardier species. Pea shaped pod with 4 to 6 seeds.

click to see the pictures…...(01)....(1).…..(2)...…(3)......(4).…....(5)......………….
Bauhinia acuminata is a species of flowering shrub. It grows two to three meters tall. Like the other Bauhinia species, the leaves are bilobed, shaped like an ox hoof; they are 6 to 15 centimeters long and broad, with the apical cleft up to 5 cm deep; the petiole is 1.5 to 4 centimeters long. The flowers are fragrant, 8 to 12 centimeters in diameter, with five white petals, ten yellow-tipped stamens and a green stigma. The fruit is a pod 7.5 to 15 centimeters long and 1.5 to 1.8 centimeters broad.

It is widely cultivated throughout the tropics as an ornamental plant. It may be found as an escape from cultivation in some areas, and has become naturalised on the Cape York Peninsula, Australia.

Cultivation:
Prefers a fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil, requiring a warm sheltered position in full sun[200, 260]. When grown in warm Temperate zones, this species can withstand short periods of temperatures as low as -5°c[200]. In Britain, it is only likely to succeed outdoors in the very mildest parts of the country, and even then would probably require the protection of a south-facing wall. There are some cultivars, developed for their ornamental value.

Propagation:
Seed – pre-soak for 12 hours in warm water then sow in mid spring in a greenhouse. When large enough t handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out in early summer, after the last expected frosts and consider giving some protection from the cold for their first winter or two outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, with the leaves removed, in moist sand July/August in a frame[200]. Gentle bottom heat is usually required. Layering.

Edible Uses: The young leaves, flowers and fruits are boiled and eaten as a vegetable, or are pickled.

Medicinal Uses:
The bark is alterative, anthelmintic, astringent and tonic. The juice of the bark is used in the treatment of amoebic dysentery, diarrhoea and other stomach disrders. A paste of the bark is useful in the treatment of cuts and wounds, skin diseases, scrofula and ulcers. The dried buds are used in the treatment of piles, dysentery, diarrhoea and worms. The juice of the flowers is used to treat diarrhoea, dysentery and other stomach disorders. The root is used as an antidote to snake poison. A decoction of the root is used to treat dyspepsia.

Other Uses:
The bark is a source of tannins. It is used for dyeing. Wood – used for house construction and making household implements. A very popular ornamental tree in subtropical and tropical climates, grown for its scented flowers. The leaves, shoots and pods of B. variegata are used as fodder for livestock, including sheep, goats and cattle. Average leaf yield from a mature tree is about 20-22 kg fresh weight per annum. Erosion control or dune stabilization, Shade and shelter, Windbreak. Fuels:Charcoal, Fuelwood.

Disclaimer:   The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauhinia_acuminata
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54414/
http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/bauhinia_acuminata.htm

http://www.pfaf.org/USER/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Bauhinia+variegata

 

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