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: Vellai sharuni. This Prostrate fleshy pubescent herb is often found in dry deciduous areas and dry fallow lands. This plant was found in the outskirts of Coimbatore district in dry fallow lands. They belong to the ice plant family (general name). The plant has its origin in Africa and presently has a widespread … Read More “Zaleya decandra (family Aizoaceae)” »
This terrestrial orchid is a tiny delicate herb of about 10 cm. and is found in sub-tropical montane forest areas. It prefers wet moss covered areas. The Inflorescence is a terminal raceme. This plant was encountered by me in Bryant Park (2000 msl), Kodaikanal, Tamilnadu. It was found near a moss covered side-wall in the … Read More “Cheirostylis flabellata (Orchidaceae)” »
