Common name: Lipstick tree and Sindoor. Tamil name: Sappiravirai. This evergreen tree is often used as an ornamental tree in India. It grows to a height of about 3 meters. Leaves are simple and arranged in an alternate manner. Leaves are ovate in shape and have an acuminate apex and a cordate base. The plant … Read More “Bixa orellana (Family Bixaceae (Annatoo family)” »
Tamil name: Chentam Beach Launaea is a perennial, procumbent plant of African origin. The plant leaves are oblong in shape and have pinnately lobed margin. The creeping stem roots at nodes and this helps the plant to spread around in the sandy beach areas. Flowers are attractive and are yellow color. The fruit is in … Read More “Launaea sarmentosa (Asteraceae- Sunflower family)” »
Common name: Ravan’s moustache. Tamil Name: Iravanan-pul. This perennial plant is commonly seen in sand dunes near beaches. The plant can be spotted in coastal beach areas in Tamilnadu, Goa and Konkan. These plants aggregate into large clumps on beach sand dunes. They continuously colonize new areas by deploying their horizontally branching stems which root … Read More “Spinflex littoreus (Family: Poaceae (grass family)” »
Tamil name: Thurai Poondu. The plant is often seen near damp sandy soil areas. It is a much branched prostrate herb. It forms extensive mats on the floor which extend to more than 40 cm. The plant is glabrous with leaves seen in whorls of 3-5 numbers (of differing sizes) arranged in opposite manner. The … Read More “Glinus oppositifolius (Family-Mulluginaceae-Carpetweed family” »
Common name: Climbing Rex Begonia (but does not belong to Begonia genus). Tamil name Njerinjampuli. The plant is a large colorful perennial vine, stems are 4 ridged they appear rusty and have forked tendrils. The simple leaves are arranged alternatively. The lower side of the leaf is deep red in color; the upper side of … Read More “Cissus Javana (Family- Vitaceae-Grape family)” »
