Musanda??
Dr. Hari Venkatesh.K.Rajaraman
Dear Deepak ji. . .
Thanks for posting Mussaenda species here. . .the plant in your post is exactly an ornamental cultivated species called as Mussaenda phillipica, Rubiaceae, native to Philippines & New Guinea.
The Main character in Mussaenda species is that one or more sepals will be modified into coloured leaf like structures to attract the Pollinators.
Like wise nearly 3 species are found to be grown in India,
1. Mussaenda bellila (M.frondosa var.laxa) – (Climber) wildly grown… native & endemic to the Western Ghats.
2. Mussaenda erythrophylla – Ornamental species (Shrub) in which 1 sepal would be modified into red coloured hairy expanded sessile leaf like structures. Native to Tropical Africa.
3. Mussaenda phillipica – Ornamental species (Shrub) in which all the 5 sepals would be modified into white or greenish white leaf like structure.
Key Character to Identify Mussaenda species – Interpetiolar stipules would be bifid & deciduous.
Among these 3 varieties the first one M.bellila is used in AYurveda in the name of Naagavalli.
Kannada: Bellotti gida.
Thamizh: Vellai ilai
Malayalam: Vellila
Medicinal uses: Whole plant – Expectorant, used in Cough, Pruritis, wounds, ulcers, Jaundice, Metropathy & Uropathy.
Mode: 20 gms of white leaves given in Jaundice
Flowers: given in Asthma, fever, Dropsy
Leaf: Decoction given in Intestinal worms, Juice applied in weakness of eyesight
Roots: used in Leprosy & Eye diseases. (roots rubbed in water applied as a paste to relieve the burning of sore eyes)
Phytochemicals: Roots contain a bitter saponin, glycoside, resin & Sugar.
Iam posting Mussaenda bellila & Mussaenda erythrophylla for your reference.
Thank You
Dr Hari Venkatesh K Rajaraman
