Common Name: Cup saucer plant. Tamil Namel Mull-vengai
Cup saucer plant is native to the South-East Asian region, this shrub is often found around deciduous forest ranges in Western Ghat area. This shrub grows to a height of about 2 meters, the branches are seen dropping down. The leaves are arranged in an alternate manner; the leaves are ovate to elliptical in shape; the leaf has a rounded apex and slightly retuse at the tip. The leaf stalk measure around 1 mm; the leaf length measurers around 2 cm. The inflorescence is on the leaf axis; flowers are unisexual and very small. The fruit is in the form of a 1.4 cm across capsule held in the middle of a spread out persistent calyx. This gives the plant the name ‘Cup saucer’ plant. The ornamental potential of this plant remains untapped. The plant is used in traditional Indian systems of medicine.
