Acanthaceae Week: Justicia adhatoda from Delhi

[Gurcharan Singh]

 Justicia adhatoda L.,  Sp. pl. 1:15. 1753   (Acanthaceae)

syn: Adhatoda vasica Nees; Adhatoda zeylanica Medik

Evergreen shrub, leaves elliptic, up to 20 cm long with prominent veins; flowers in axillary pedunculate spikes, white, corolla about 3 cm long, lower lip with reddish markings, upper lip curved.

Dried leaves constitute the drug vasaka used in brochial troubles.

Photographed from Khalsa College, very common on Ridge in Delhi.

Sans: Vasaka

Hindi: Arusha

Beng: Bakas

Mar: Adulsa

Guj: Alduso

Tel: Adasaramu

Tam: Adadodai

Kan: Adusoge

Mal: Atalotakam

Common names: Malabar-nut, Malabar-nut-tree, pavettia

--
Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Retired  Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297  Mob: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/