Common Name: Zigzag plant, Devil’s backbone. Tamil Name: Kannadikalli
Pedilanthus tithymaloides means ‘slipper flower’-referring to the slipper like shape of the flower. Zigzag plant is often planted in Tamilnadu as a hedge plant. The plant stem is green in color, succulent and has milky sap. The entire plant is poisonous. The plant is often seen leafless when flowering. Zigzag plant is a plant of Central American origin naturalized in India; it grows to around 1.5 meters in height. The simple sessile leaves are arranged in an alternate manner. The leaves measure around 7.2 cm in length; leaf shape is ovate; the leaf margin is slightly crenate; leaf base cuneate and apex acuminate. The inflorescence is in the form of a terminal cyme. The flower stalk and flower measure around 1 cm and 1.5 cm respectively. The floral parts have a bright red colored bracts, the flower has a slipper like shape. On plucking the floral parts a watery sap is discharged. The flower encloses many filamentous stamens. The fruit of the plant was not located. The plant is propagated through cuttings.
