Dominant on rocks and buried pediments, it is a very rigid, spinous undershrub. Leaves are dark green, oblong, mucronate and pubescent. Flowers white with long tubes. Fruit a capsule, ellipsoid tapering at both ends. Seeds compressed, silky hairy and ovoid. Flowering and fruiting in October – March.
Part used: Whole plant
Usage: The decoction of whole plant is used in the treatment of toothache and to cure bleeding gums.
A straggling much branched spinous perennial climber on open rocks and hills. It has many finger like tuberous roots. Leaves scaly membranous on the main stem with a conical, spinous straight or curved spur. Flowers white small, arranged in long raceme. Fruit a globose berry, red in colour with black seeds. Flowering and fruiting in May to December.
Part used : Tuber
Usage: Fresh juice from tuber is given orally in dysentery, acidity and to increase the breast milk after delivery. The juice and tuber paste is applied externally to the burning feet and to heal the wounds. Tuber powder an
aphrodisiac, diuretic, demulcent and cures leucorrhoea and gout. Medicated oil prepared using tubers is beneficial for nervous and rheumatic complaints. Fresh tubers eaten to give strength, beat the heat and cure body ache, boils, cough and urinary infection.
Agrotechniques : Seeds collected in February to April, dried in the sun and soaked for 2 days in water and then sown in poly bags or beds. Saplings are transplanted in July. Root suckers can also be planted in rainy session. Regular watering and weeding at monthly interval essential. After 12-18 months of planting when leaves become dry, tubers harvested and disc (small roots) should be separated from tubers so that it can be grown within 20 days in the field and a new crop can be taken. Root tubers washed in water and dried in shade.
It is an erect perennial, climber on hedges and road side pebbles through out
the area. Leaves reniform with pointed tip. Leaves much variable in shape
and size. Flowers solitary and dark purple. Fruit an oblong ellipsoid capsule.
Seeds 2 lobed and compressed. Flowering and Fruiting in September to
February
Part used: Whole plant
Usage : An infusion of whole dried plant is used as an anthelmintic,
purgative, anti-inflammatory and antiperiodic. Decoction of the root expels round worms. Leaf juice mixed with mustard oil cures skin diseases like eczema. Leaf paste is used for expulsion of the guinea worms from the
affected part. Lotion is prepared by crushing/soaking seeds in water that
softens hairs.
Agrotechniques : It occurs abundantly in nature and complete Agrotechniques are yet to be standardized. It requires good ordinary and well drained soil in which stem cuttings can be planted directly during rainy season.