Dear all,
attaching the photograph of Rotula aquatica Lour, Collected from Kannur, Kerala near Aralam Wildlife sanctuary
Rotula aquatica is a species of aromatic
flowering shrub in the
borage family,
Boraginaceae. It is a rare
rheophyte native to
India, where it is a member of the
lotic ecosystem of streams.
[1] The plant is a mandatory component of many
ayurvedic drug preparations and is an important traditional medicine for
kidney and
bladder stones. The
root tuber is
astringent,
bitter,
diuretic and also useful in treating coughs,
heart diseases,
dysuria, blood disorders,
fever,
poisonings,
ulcers and
uterine diseases.
[2] Root
decoctions are both diuretic and
laxative and are used to treat bladder stones and
sexually transmitted diseases.
[3] Plants were exploited for their medicinal properties by excavating the roots, causing them to die. (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotula_aquatica)
-regards
Manudev K Madhavan
Junior Research Fellow
Systematic & Floristic Lab,
Department of Botany,
Centre for Postgraduate Studies & Research
St. Joseph's College, Devagiri
Kozhikode- 673 008
Mob: 9496470738