Monday 11 September 2017

अर्कपुष्पी (Holostemma ada-kodien)

This is the name of a flowering climber which is perennial and is of medium size. It has thick and long roots. Leaves are slightly woolly on underside. Flowers resemble flowers of Calotropis (आक, अर्क, रुई). Inside of petals has a pinkish-maroon vertical band. Flowers are pleasantly scented. Central crown-like part is edible. The plant climbs by twining around a support. It has twin pods which have numerous seeds. The seeds have silky tufts. With help of the silky tufts the seeds are dispersed far and wide.







The climber is said to have many medicinal uses. Extensive collection of these plants for medicinal uses and due to lack of habitat this climber is becoming rare. As such, it is now considered as an endangered species. It is native to India. It belongs to Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed) family. This climber can be propagated from seeds or by root cuttings also.

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