Common Name: Marsh barbel. Tamil Name: Niramulli
Marsh barbel grows to a height of about 2 feet and often found on paddy fields in Kerala. It prefers grows well in partially submerged soil conditions. The simple leaves are arranged in a whorled manner around the stem-at regular intervals. About 5-6 leaves are seen in each node. From these leaf nodes about 5 straight thorn like structure arise-each measuring about 2.5 cm in length. The leaves are sessile and the leaf margin is wavy. The lower surface of the leaf has white hairs, the upper surface has a sandpaper like feel. The central nerve of the leaf is reddish in color. The leaves are lanceolate in shape with a cuneate base and an acute tip. The leaf measure around 10 cm in length. The flowers are arranged in whorls around the stem. The flowers are bi-lipped and purple-blue in color. The throat of the flower has yellow spots. The flower tube measure around 1.4 cm and the flower across measure around 2.2 cm. The fruit is in the form of a capsule and the seeds are brown in color. The flower has 4 stamens. All parts of the plant are used in Ayurveda for preparation of hepatic tonic. Marsh barbel is the larval host plant for Tiny grass blue, Peacock pansy, Grey pansy, Yellow pansy, Chocolate pansy, Lemon pansy and Blue pansy. When plant dries up into black stumps when they die.
