Common Name: Sponge gourd. Tamil Name: Peerkangai. Sponge gourd is commonly found around rural Coimbatore aggressively growing over hedges and other nearby vegetation. It is a climbing annual and tendrils are tri-fed. The plant can extend itself to over 15 meters. The leaves are 7 or 5 lobed and are basically ovate in shape. The … Read More “Luffa aegyptiaca (Cucurbitaceae- Pumpkin family)” »
Common Name: Indian spinach, Malabar spinach. Tamil Name: Vasalakkirai Indian spinach is succulent, edible green climber with a watery sap. The plant is native to Indian sub-continent. It coils around surrounding vegetation and can grow to around 9 meters in length. The plant is extremely fast growing and often planted in home gardens. The leaf … Read More “Basella alba (Basellaceae- basella family)” »
Common Name: Five fingered morning glory, Rock rosemary. Rock rosemary is a slender stemmed twinning herb and native of Central America, naturalized in India. The plant is commonly seen along fences and hedges in rural areas of Tamilnadu. The stem is round in cross-section the plant is mostly glabrous; some hairs are seen in patches. … Read More “Merremia quinquefolia (Convolvulaceae- Morning glory family)” »
Common Name: Madras pea pumpkin. Tamil Name: Musumussukkai) Madras pea pumpkin is a slender-stemmed climber and is commonly seen Taminadu; often seen growing on fences and hedges. The entire plant is covered with dense white long hairs. The leaves are simple and arranged alternatively in spiral manner. The leafing nodes are wide apart from each … Read More “Mukia maderspatana (Cucurbitaceae- Pumpkin family” »
Common Name: Gulbel, Guduchi. Tamil Name: Amrtavallu, Kunali, Gulbel is a large glabrous woody climber with corky bark and native to the Indian sub-continent. This plant is commonly seen in forest edges, road sides and farmlands. It climbs over nearby vegetation and can climb up large trees and extend itself to over 10 meters. The … Read More “Tinospora cordifolia (Menispermaceae- Moonseed family)” »
