Category: Herbs & Plants

Botanical Name: Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima
Family: Amaranthaceae/Chenopodiaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Caryophyllales
Genus: Beta
Species: B. vulgaris
Subspecies: B. v. subsp.

Synonyms: B. maritima.

Common Names: Sea beet

Habitat : Sea beet is found in maritime locations in Europe, northern Africa, and southern Asia. In the British Isles it is found round the coasts of England, Wales, Ireland and southern Scotland. It grows at the top of sand and pebble beaches, at the drift-line on saltmarshes, on sea-walls, coastal rocks and cliffs. It also occurs on wasteland near the sea, and occasionally on rubbish tips and roadsides inland. On the pebble banks of Chesil Beach in Dorset, it dominates the drift-line along with oraches Atriplex spp., and is in dynamic equilibrium with a community dominated by shrubby sea-blite Suaeda vera.

Description:
Sea beet is an erect and sprawling perennial plant up to 60 cm (2 ft) high with dark green, leathery, untoothed, shiny leaves. The lower leaves are wavy and roughly triangular while the upper leaves are narrow and oval. The inflorescence is borne on a thick, fleshy grooved stem in a leafy spike.Its flowers are hermaphroditic, and wind-pollinated. The individual flowers are green and tiny with the sepals thickening and hardening around the fruits.

CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES

Cultivation: It requires moist, well-drained soils, and does not tolerate shade. However, it is able to tolerate relatively high levels of sodium in its environment.

Propagation: Through seed – sow between March to May in situ.

Edible Uses:
The sea beet is the wild ancestor of common vegetables such as beetroot, sugar beet, and Swiss chard.Its leaves have a pleasant texture and taste, being good served raw or cooked, and because of this, it is also known as wild spinach.

Medicinal Uses:
Although little used in modern herbalism, beet has a long history of folk use, especially in the treatment of tumours. A decoction prepared from the seed has been used as a remedy for tumours of the intestines. The seed, boiled in water, is said to cure genital tumours. The juice or other parts of the plant is said to help in the treatment of tumours, leukaemia and other forms of cancer such as cancer of the breast, oesophagus, glands, head, intestines, leg, lip, lung, prostate, rectum, spleen, stomach, and uterus. Some figure that betacyanin and anthocyanin are important in the exchange of substances of cancer cells; others note two main components of the amines, choline and its oxidation product betaine, whose absence produces tumours in mice. The juice has been applied to ulcers. A decoction is used as a purgative by those who suffer from haemorrhoids in South Africa. Leaves and roots used as an emmenagogue. Plant effective in the treatment of feline ascariasis. In the old days, beet juice was recommended as a remedy for anaemia and yellow jaundice, and, put into the nostrils to purge the head, clear ringing ears, and alleviate toothache. Beet juice in vinegar was said to rid the scalp of dandruff as scurf, and was recommended to prevent falling hair. Juice of the white beet was said to clear obstructions of the liver and spleen. Culpepper (1653) recommended it for treating headache and vertigo as well as all affections of the brain[

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

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_beet
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Beta+vulgaris+maritima

Botanical Name: Acalypha godseffiana
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Subfamily: Acalyphoideae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Malpighiales
Tribe: Acalypheae
Subtribe: Acalyphinae
Genus: Acalypha

Synonyms: Acalypha wilkesiana var. Godseffiana, Acalypha godseffiana var. heterophylla, Acalypha wilkesiana ‘Fierstorm’.

Common Names: Copper Leaf, Firestorm, Dwarf Acalypha, Match-me-if-you-can, Three-seeded Mercury, Jacobs Coat, Fire Dragon, Beefsteak Plant

Sinhala name: Sankaraja makuta

Habitat: Acalypha godseffiana is native to East Indies and the Pacific, this is one of the most striking foliage shrubs and is widely used by tropical gardeners.(Western Pacific – Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Tuvalu, Vanuatu) It grows along the edges of forests and along the sides of roads; at elevations from 400 – 450 metres

Description:
Acalypha godseffiana is an erect or spreading, evergreen, often suckering shrub that can grow 2 – 4 metres tall, occasionally to 6 metres. It is a very colorful tropical shrub grown for its attractive reddish leaves. Beautiful foliage of mixed shades of red, yellow and green. Leaves, much smaller than ordinary copperleafs, are orange/red in the full sun and mostly variegated/green in the shade. The more sun the more color the leaves will get. Fast growing. Cultivars of A. godseffiana are found in a wide variety of colors: green and white, green and yellow, red, bronze, copper, or brown. The leaves also vary in form, some being flat and others undulating, while the flowers are inconspicuous. In a garden, where they are often used as informal hedges or in massed beds, all Acalypha species require full sun, well-drained soil, and careful pruning to prevent them from becoming leggy.

CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES

Cultivation:
Acalypha godseffiana can take full sun or partial shade but requires the former to develop vibrant colours on foliage. Specimens grown under shade will not be as colourful. A fast-growing shrub, it likes well-drained soil with regularly sprinkled with organic matter.

Propagation:Through seeds. Acalypha godseffiana is easily propagated by cuttings also.

Edible Uses: Young shoots, without the flowers, are eaten as a cooked vegetable,

Medicinal Uses:
Acalypha godseffiana traditionally used in the treatment and/or management of diverse ailments such as diabetes, jaundice, hypertension, fever, liver inflammation, schistosomiasis, dysentery, respiratory problems including bronchitis, asthma and pheumonia as well as skin conditions.
The plant is abortifacient, antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial and antinematodal. The leaves are squeezed into water and the resulting juice is drunk as a treatment for diarrhoea and dysentery. The juice of fresh leaves is drunk as a treatment for laryngitis. They are chewed on as a first-aid treatment for a ruptured appendix. The fresh shoots are squeezed into water and the solution drunk to regulate menstruation and as an abortifacient. (Presumably this last treatment is a much stronger juice than that used for diarrhoea.)
Applied externally, the leaves and young shoots are used to treat skin rashes. The leaves are boiled in water and used as a massage for patients with fevers. The fresh, leafy branches are applied externally in order to induce perspiration, apparently for their rubefacient effect.
The fresh young leaves, combined with the leaves of Ocimum basilicum, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Euodia hortensis, are placed in a bowl of hot water and the vapour released is breathed in to bring relief from pneumonia, malaria, pain and fever

Known Hazards The bark has been used as a poison

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acalypha
https://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/acalypha_godseffiana.htm
http://www.instituteofayurveda.org/plants/plants_detail.php?i=473&s=Scientific_name&L=A
https://www.bing.com/search?q=synonyms+of+Acalypha+godseffiana&qs=n&form=QBRE&sp=-1&pq=synonyms+of+acalypha+godseffiana&sc=1-32&sk=&cvid=ADE721B1D1974CA989B62DB434B726A8&ghsh=0&ghacc=0&ghpl=
https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Acalypha+wilkesiana&redir=Acalypha+godseffiana

Botanical Name: Dovyalis hebecarpa
Family: Salicaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Malpighiales
Genus: Dovyalis
Species: D. hebecarpa

Synonyms:
*Aberia gardneri Clos nom. illeg.
*Aberia hebecarpa (Gardner) Kuntze
*Rumea hebecarpa Gardner

Common Names:English: Ceylon gooseberry, ketembilla, kitembilla; Brazil: groselha-do-Ceilao; Chinese: xi-lin-cu, his-lu-ts’u-li; Cuba: aberia; French: groseillier de Ceylan, ketembillier; German: Kaffernp flaume; India: kocu vetti (Tamil); Spanish: quetembilla; Sri Lanka: ketembilla, kitaembilla, kitembilla, kithaembilla (Sinhala), kocu vetti (Tamil)

Habitat :Dovyalis hebecarpa is native to Sri Lanka and southern India.

Description:
Dovyalis hebecarpa is a shrub or small tree growing to 6 m tall, with sharp, 3–6 cm long stem spines in the leaf axils. The leaves are alternately arranged, simple broad lanceolate, 5–10 cm long and 1–3 cm broad, with an entire or finely toothed margin.

The flowers are inconspicuous, solitary or clustered, with no petals. It is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants, though some female plants are parthenogenetic.

The fruit is an edible dark purple globose berry 2–3 cm diameter, very juicy with an acidic flavour, and containing several small seeds. The fruit is quite acidic, so it is usually not eaten fresh.

CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES

Propagation & Cultivation:
It can be propagated from the seeds. Plants grown from the seed show variable characters and male or female plants cannot be distinguished by growth characteristics. Therefore vegetative methods of propagation such as cuttings, budding and grafting should be used. Budwood and cuttings should be taken from selected mother trees having perfect flowers and good quality fruits. 3

Climate:
The tree thrives from sea-level to 1,200 m. It does well in wet or semi dry areas but requires adequate supply of water during fruit development. It does not tolerate waterlogged conditions. It is extremely drought resistant and also tolerates sea spray. A hardy tree, that thrives on any soil including limestone. In Florida, the tree grows well on sand or limestone, but a rich, friable soil is best for maximum fruit production.

Edible Uses: The fruit are often eaten fresh, or made into jam. Some cultivars have been selected for being thornless (making harvesting easier) and for larger fruit.

The tropical apricot, or ketcot, is a hybrid between D. hebecarpa and D. abyssinica that was developed in Florida in 1953 and is also cultivated for its fruit.

Medicinal Uses:
Dovyalis hebecarpa fruit is a source of phytochemicals that could be used in the human diet providing defense against free radicals damage. Moreover, the skins of the fruit, which are not typically consumed, contained higher levels of polyphenols than the pulp. This indicates that the skins of the Ceylon gooseberry may represent a promising source of natural pigments and antioxidants for industrial applications.

Known hazard: The plant has sharp spines,

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

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dovyalis_hebecarpa
https://www.growables.org/information/TropicalFruit/CeylonGoose.htm
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25624229/

Botanical Name: Aalius androgyna
Family: Phyllanthaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Malpighiales
Genus: Sauropus
Species: S. androgynus

Synonyms:
*Sauropus androgynus
*Aalius androgyna (L.) Kuntze
*A. lanceolata (Hook.f.) Kuntze
*A. oblongifolia (Hook.f.) Kuntze
*A. retroversa (Wight) Kuntze
*A. sumatrana (Miq.) Kuntze
*Agyneia ovata Poir.
*Andrachne ovata Lam. ex Poir.
*Clutia androgyna L. (basionym)
*Phyllanthus acidissimus Noronha

Common Names:Binahian,Katuk, Star gooseberry, or Sweet leaf
English name: Sweet Leaf Bush
Star Gooseberry
Sinhala name: Japan batu
Mella dumkola
Singappuru kola
Tamil name: Pallikkarputu

Habitat:Aalius androgyna is native to Srilanka, It grows in Karnataka: Shimoga Kerala: Idukki, Kannur, Kollam, Kozhikode, Malapuram, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta,Thiruvananthapuram

Description:
Aalius androgyna is an erect, perennial shrub growing to a height of 2.5 to 3 meters. Leaves are dark green, 2 – 6 centimeters long, 1.5 to 3 centimeters wide, usually with faint, grayish speckled markings on the upperside. Flowers are red and small, developing into round to angular white or purple fruit capsules measuring about 1.5 centimeter diameter.

CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES

Cultivation:
Breynia androgyna needs 0.8 cups of water every 9 days when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5.0″ pot.Use water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all plants.

Propagation:

• Propagated by stem cuttings.
• Harvested 4 months after planting.
• Tender young leaves harvested from the top 15 centimeters of the stem tips.
• A fast growing vegetable with abundant fruiting.

Edible Uses:
Tender leaves, shoot tips, flowers, and immature fruit are eaten boiled, steamed, stirfried, or in soups. Tender leaves can be added to sandwiches, meat, rice and curries, scrambled eggs, etc. as a garnish.

Medicinal Uses:
Parts used in Treatment: Roots
Consumption of Sauropus androgynus has been reported as being associated with bronchiolitis obliterans. It is used for the treatment of Headache, Fever, Urinary tract disorders,
Uterine disorders,Wounds

Known Hazards: The leaves are safe to eat in large quantities only after being cooked as heat seems to denature the toxin.

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

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauropus_androgynus
http://www.instituteofayurveda.org/plants/plants_detail.php?i=542&s=Scientific_name&L=A

Botanical Name: Hedera nepalensis
Family: Araliaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Apiales
Genus: Hedera
Species: H. nepalensis

Common Names: Nepal Ivy

Habitat:
Hedera nepalensis is native to Nepal and Bhutan, as well as Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, at altitudes of about 1000–3000 m. Plants grow up to 30 m in height, with simple leaves ranging from 2–15 cm long, and yellow flowers.

Descriptiion:
Hedera nepalensis is an evergreen climber, growing to 15 m (49ft) by 5 m (16ft) at a medium rate.. Stem: creeping or climbing to a height of 30 m with adventitious roots. Evergreen foliage, dark green, glossy, lighter underneath, glabrous, leathery, lanceolate, oval, to klapowanych (flaps odd, usually 3, triangular), u heart-shaped base of the wedge, the top slightly pointed or blunt.

Flowers:
The plant blooms from October to April. The flowers are bisexual, small, 5-fold, meeting within the fond[clarif ovate panicles. Flower stalks (length 7–12 mm) and Flowering hairy. Chalice entire edges, retained. Petals yellow crown. Stamens 5, anthers 1–2 mm long. Pillar short neck, single, Fruit is a drupes, flattened, 5–7 mm long, 5–10 mm wide, with orange to red. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies).

.

CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES

Cultivation:
Ivy is a very easily grown plant that dislikes waterlogged, very dry or very acid soils but otherwise succeeds in all soil types. It grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers some lime in the soil. Tolerates very dense shade, though it may not flower in such a position. This species is not hardy in all parts of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -5 to -10°c. Ivy is a rampant climbing plant, clinging by means of aerial roots and often trailing on the ground in woods and hedges. It is of benefit rather than harm when growing on a wall because it keeps the wall dry and acts as an insulation. It does not damage the structure of a wall. Similarly, it does not harm large trees when climbing into them, though it can shade out smaller and ailing trees. It is not a parasitic plant, but instead obtains all its nutrient from the sun and the soil. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus.

Propagation:
Through Seed – remove the flesh, which inhibits germination, and sow the seed in spring in a cold frame. Four weeks cold stratification will improve germination. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a shady position in a frame. Good percentage. Cuttings of mature wood, 12cm long, November in a cold frame. Layering. Plants often do this naturally.

Medicinal Uses:
The leaves and the berries are said to be cathartic, diaphoretic and stimulant. A decoction of the plant is used to treat skin diseases.

Other Uses: It is noted for attracting wildlife.

Known Hazards: Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, the following notes are for the closely related Hedera helix and quite possibly are relavent here. The plant is said to be poisonous in large doses although the leaves are eaten with impunity by various mammals without any noticeable harmful affects. The leaves and fruits contain the saponic glycoside hederagenin which, if ingested, can cause breathing difficulties and coma. The sap can cause dermatitis with blistering and inflammation. This is apparently due to the presence of polyacetylene compounds.

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

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedera_nepalensis
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Hedera+nepalensis