Common Name: Indian borage. Tamil Name: Kulittaitumpai.
Indian borage is a common plant seen in fallow-lands, road-sides and forest edges in Tamilnadu. The plant stem is reddish in color and covered with white hairs (hispid). The flowers are attractive, white in color with a shade of blue; the flowers always open face down. The upper leaf surface is dark green in color and the lower surface is whitish green; the central leaf vein is exposed on the lower side. The sessile simple leaves are arranged in an alternate manner. The lower part of the leaf surrounds the stem hence sessile. The leaves are 3 cm long and are lanceolate in shape; leaf tip is acute. The inflorescence is axillary with a single flower. The flower stalk is reddish in color and hairy and measure around measure 1 cm across. The five petals (salver shaped) are united and each ending in a coiled sharp point. The calyx is greenish in color and has five segments; on the middle of each segment a red nerve is seen. The calyx elements are sagitate and hairy. The stamens are united and form a cone like structure at the center of the flower. The fruit is in the form of 4 nutlets with persistent calyx and are one seeded.
