Common Name: Wax leaved climber, Indian sarsaparilla. Tamil Name: Pala Koti
Wax leaved climber is a twinning climber with milky sap, it is often found on road-side and fences in rural areas. The simple leaves are arranged in an opposite manner. The leaves are bright green with a waxy surface and the leaf margin is entire. The leaf stalk and leaf measure around 7 mm and 8 cm respectively. The leaves are elliptic in shape with a cuneate bottom. The tip of leaf is generally acute in some cases apiculate. The young leafs are rusty in color. The inflorescence is the in the form of a short one sided axillary cyme. The flowers are greenish-yellow in color; the flower stalk measure around 2 mm. The calyx is five teethed. The flower has five petals. The fruit is in the form of a paired follicle (see featured image). Several seeds are found inside with cottony attachments. The root and stem have medicinal applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine. Wax leaved climber is the larval host plant for Plain tiger, Common crow and Glassy tiger butterflies.
