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Satureja douglasii

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Botanical Name : Satureja douglasii
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Clinopodium
Species: C. douglasii
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales

Synonyms: Micromeria douglasii – (Benth.)Benth.,Satureja douglasii – (Benth.)Briq.,Thymus chamissonis – Benth.,Thymus douglasii – Benth.

Common Names :Yerba buena (The plant’s most common name, the same in English and Spanish, is an alternate form of the Spanish hierba buena (meaning “good herb”). The name was bestowed by pioneer Catholic priests of Alta California as they settled an area where the plant is native. It was so abundant there that its name was also applied to the settler’s town adjacent to Mission San Francisco de Asís. In 1846, the town of Yerba Buena was seized by the United States during the Mexican-American War, and its name was changed in 1847 to San Francisco, after a nearby mission. Three years later, the name was applied to a nearby rocky island; today millions of commuters drive through the tunnel on Yerba Buena Island that connects the spans of the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge)

Habitat : Satureja douglasii is  native to California and is also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America.It grows in Coniferous woods.
Yerba Buena is found in woods near coast and coast ranges from Los Angeles to British Columbia. Prefers shade and moisture.

Description:
Satureja douglasii  is a creeping flat low growing   perennial herb that can spread to 3′ but is easily held to 1′. A good ground cover without being aggressive, easy to keep small. The stems grow across the ground not with rhizomes.   Yerba Buena usually grows in shade as an understory plant, usually associated with trees like oaks (Quercus), bays (Umbellularia californica) and madrones (Arbutus menziesii).
CLICK & THE PICTURES

It is hardy to zone 7. It is in flower from April to May. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry or moist

Cultivation:
Prefers an open position in a well-drained soil. Succeeds in poor soils. Plants grow best and live longer when grown in an open sunny position and a dry sandy soil. A prostate plant, the stems forming roots at the leaf axils wherever they come into contact with the soil. The bruised leaves release a most refreshing lemony scent resembling verbena.

Propagation:
Seed – sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Basal cuttings in early summer. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 – 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer. Division of the rooted prostrate stems in the spring.

Edible Uses:
Edible Uses: Tea.

The dried leaves, steeped in boiling water, make a palatable mint-flavoured tea. The dried leafy spines are used according to other reports

Medicinal Uses
Anthelmintic; Aphrodisiac; Blood purifier; Digestive; Febrifuge; Kidney; Sedative; Tonic.

The whole plant is aphrodisiac, blood purifier, mildly digestive, febrifuge, sedative and tonic. An infusion can be used in the treatment of insomnia, colic, upset stomachs, kidney problems, colds and fevers. A decoction of the plant has been used to get rid of pinworms. The decoction has also been used as an aphrodisiac. A poultice of the warm leaves have been applied to the jaw, or the plant held in the mouth, as a treatment for toothache.

Other Uses
Essential.

The leaves have been placed in clothing as a perfume

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/Yerba_buena
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/satureja-douglasii
http://digedibles.com/database/plants.php?Micromeria+chamissonis
http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Satureja-douglasii/

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Categories
Herbs & Plants

Antidesma acidum Retz

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Botanical Name : Antidesma acidum Retz.
Family: Meliaceae
Genus: Aphanamixis
Species: A. polystachya
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Sapindales
Syn.  :Amoora rohituka W& A
Common Names:Rohitaka, Harinharra, Tiktaraj
Vernacular Names :
Gujarati: Ragat Rohido
Marathi: Raktharohida
Bengali: Tiktaraj
Kannada: Mukhyamuttage
Tamil: Malampuluvan, Sem, Semmaram
Malayalam: Chemmaram, Sem
Telugu: Chevamanu, Rohitaka

Habitat :
It is native to Tropical areas generally from Asia and Oceania : China , Bhutan , India , Sri Lanka , Indochina , Burma , Thailand , Indonesia , Malaysia , Papua New Guinea and Philippines .

West Sepik, East Sepik, Madang, Morobe, Western Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Southern Highlands, Western, Gulf, Central, Northern, Milne Bay, New Britain, New Ireland & Manus.

Description:
Large canopy tree (up to 25 m high, rarely to 35 m); Bole cylindrical or markedly fluted (slightly up to 100 cm diam.); often crooked or straight (bole up to c. 15 m long); buttresses buttresses present (buttresses 1-4 m high); spines spines absent; aerial roots aerial roots absent; stilt roots stilt roots absent; Bark brownish red or pale brown, rough, scaly or flaky; Subrhytidome (under-bark) red (bright red); less than 25 mm thick (5-6 mm thick), 5.0-8.0; bark blaze consisting of one layer; strongly aromatic; pleasant; outer blaze red, markings absent, fibrous; inner blaze red, markings absent, fibrous; bark exudate (sap) present, white/milky, not readily flowing (spotty), colour not changing on exposure to air, sticky; terminal buds not enclosed by leaves.
You may click to see the pictures of the plant
Leaves: Leaves spaced along branches, spiral (leaves occurring singly at a node and arranged spirally up the branchlet), compound (a leaf made up from two or more leaflets); petiole present, not winged, attached to base of leaf blade, swollen (at base and inhabited by ants); leaves pinnate (unbranched with more than three leaflets); petiolule not swollen; rachis present, absent, absent; leaves with a terminal leaflet (the number of leaflets odd – imparipinnate), broadest below middle, (7.5-) 9.5-25.0 cm, (4.0-) 5.5-8.0 (-9.0) cm, leaflets opposite, asymmetric, terminal developing leaflet buds straight; venation pinnate, secondary veins open, prominent, intramarginal veins absent; leaves lower surface green, upper surface green, indumentum (hairs) absent; absent; domatia absent; stipules absent.

Flowers: Inflorescence axillary (sweetly aromatic), flowers on an unbranched axis, cones absent; flowers unisexual or bisexual, unisexual with male and female flowers on different plants, stalked (shortly), flowers with many planes of symmetry, 3.0-5.0 (-7.0) mm long, diameter small (up to10 mm diam.) (4-9 mm diam.); perianth present, with distinct sepals and petals whorls, inner perianth pale yellow or cream-coloured (sometimes tinged with red); 3, some or partly joined; stamens 3-8, present, joined (to form a staminal tube), at base joined to the perianth; ovary superior, carpels joined (when more than one), locules 3 (-4); styles solitary, 1.

Fruits: Infrutescence arranged on unbranched axis, fruit 20.0-40.0 mm long, yellow when young or pale red, not spiny, slightly fleshy, simple, dehiscent, capsule; seeds 1-3, much more than 10 mm long (17-20 mm long), not winged, narrow (longer than wide), seed 1-10 mm diam. (c. 6 mm diam.).
Click  For more  details click : http://www.biotik.org/india/species/a/aphapoly/aphapoly_en.html

Other Uses: The wood is used for construction of ships, vehicles, posts and agricultural tools.
Click to see : Evaluation of Aphanamixis polystachya as a source of repellents, antifeedants, toxicants and protectants in storage against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) :

Medicinal Uses:

Click to see  :
*Radioprotective Potential of Plants and Herbs against the Effects of Ionizing Radiation :

* Full Length Research Paper
Central nervous system depressant and analgesic
activity of Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall.) parker leaf
extract in mice :

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://vaniindia.org.whbus12.onlyfordemo.com/herbal/plantdir.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphanamixis_polystachya
http://www.pngplants.org/PNGtrees/TreeDescriptions/Aphanamixis_polystachya_Wall_R_N_Parker.html

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Exercise

Shape Your Lower Body for Summer

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Here’s a simple yet challenging way to firm and tighten your buttocks and thighs. If you start to incorporate this move into your exercise routine now, you can help get your lower body in shape for the summer.

Step-1. Lie on a padded, flat surface and place your feet hip-width apart atop a round 36-inch foam roller. Make sure that your feet are flat, with your heels and toes on the same level. Extend your arms straight alongside your body with your head resting on the floor.

Step-2. On an exhale, push down evenly with both feet on the roller. Do not allow the roller to move, and be sure to keep the soles of your feet facing the floor throughout the exercise. Raise your hips, waist and mid-back off the floor. Pause for 10 seconds at the top of the lift while balancing on your upper back and both feet. Concentrate on squeezing the muscles in your buttocks and backs of your thighs. Slowly lower your hips to the floor, then repeat three to five times.

Source: Los Angeles Times

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Exercise

A Bridge to a Relaxation

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Whenever you feel tightness in your chest, shoulders and back, practice this variation of a backbend, or bridge pose. It will help release tension in your mid- and upper back as well as stretch and strengthen your hips and legs.

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Step-1. Lie back on a mat with your heels resting on a sturdy chair. Extend your arms alongside your body, palms flat on the floor. Make sure your feet are hip-distance apart and your knees are parallel to each other.

Step-2. On an inhale, press firmly on your feet as you raise your hips toward the ceiling. Interlace your fingers and rotate your upper arms outward so your shoulders can roll under. Keep your arms and hands on the floor while imagining your shoulder blades are moving up and through your chest. This will help open and release tight spots in your upper and middle back and chest area. Hold this position and focus on slow, deep breathing. To come down, release your hands and slowly lower your hips to the floor.

Source : Los Angeles Times

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Exercise

Ab Crunches Get on a Roll

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Here’s a new way to spice up your basic abdominal crunches using a 36-inch round roller. This is a challenging exercise, so be patient if you find it difficult at first. And remember: It’s important to keep your shoulders and hips level throughout the entire move.

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STEP-1. Sit at one end of the roller, line up your spine on the roller and lie down on it. (Scoot down enough to make sure the back of your head rests on the roller.) Place your feet flat on the floor, shoulder-width apart, with your knees bent, toes facing forward. On an inhale, extend your arms straight behind you, elbows tight and thumbs facing the floor. Focus on maintaining your balance.

STEP-2. On an exhale, sweep your arms straight in front of your chest, fingers pointing toward your feet. Simultaneously raise your right foot, contract your abdominals and roll your head, shoulders and chest off the roller. Pause for two seconds while pressing your mid-back down against the roller. Slowly return to the start position with your arms overhead. Repeat, raising your left foot off the floor. Continue to alternate legs for eight to 12 repetitions.

Source: Los Angeles Times

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