Common name: Chakrani
Chakrani is a shrub that grows to around 2 meters and is found in evergreen forest areas of the Western Ghats. The simple leafs are arranged in an alternate manner. The leaf shape is oblong-lanceolate. Below the leaf surface three nerves are prominently exposed. The leaf measure around 10-12 cm in length. The inflorescence is in the form of a few flowering axillary cyme. The flowers are purple and consists of three tepals. The 9 stamens are arranged in sets of three around the flower. The flowers tend to droop down. The fruit is in the form of a pendulous elongate cylindrical capsule. Chakrani is native to India and Sri Lanka. Deployed in Ayurveda system of medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties. It is the larval host plant for large butterflies like Common rose, Crimson rose, Malabar rose and Sahyadri Birdwing butterflies.
