Common Name: Wild spider flower, Cat whiskers. Tamil Name: Nal velai Cat whiskers is a very common annual seen on road-sides and fallow lands in Tamilnadu. It grows to a height of about 2 feet and has a stinky smell. The leaves are edible but not commonly consumed. The entire plant is slightly hairy and … Read More “Cleome gynandra (Cleomaceae- Spider flower family)” »
Common Name: White thunbergia, Common forest thunbergia. Tamil Name: Indirapushpam White thunbergia is an attractive twinning vine which grows to about 3 meters. The plant is valued for its medicinal properties in traditional Siddha medicine. The leaves are cooked and consumed in some parts of India. The simple leaves are arranged in an opposite manner. … Read More “Thunbergia fragrans (Acanthaceae- Acanthus family)” »
Common Name: Pongam tree, Indian Beech tree. Tamil Name: Pongamaram Pongam is a common tree with wide distribution all over India; it grows to a height of about 8-10 meters. This tree is often seen planted on road sides and large gardens. The bark of the tree is grey in color and smooth. The leaves … Read More “Pongamia pinnata (Fabaceae- Pea family)” »
Common Name: Whorled marsh pennywort. Tamil name: Neer- Vallarai. Whorled marsh pennywort is often planted as an ornamental Tamilnadu. This ornamental value being the unique round shaped dark green leaves. The plant reaches a height of about 10 cm. The plant produces a single leaf per node that arises from the ground. The leaves are … Read More “Hydocotyle verticillata (Apiaceae- Carrot family)” »
Common Name: Red ginger. Red ginger is a native of Malaysia naturalized in India. It is a beautiful ornamental plant, the main attraction being the red bracts that cover the flower. The plant can easily grow to around 1.5 meters in height. It is a favorite among landscape garden planners and horticulturists: several cultivar varieties … Read More “Alpinia purpurata (Zingiberaceae- Ginger family)” »
