Orange-flame vine (Combretum fruticosum)

The Orange-flame vine, "Combretum fruticosum", of the family Combretaceae, is a rambler which blooms profusely in summer and the early monsoon. Ramblers are weak-stemmed plants which straggle over other vegetation, an example of which is Bougainvillea. The Orange-flame vine, like other ramblers, can be shaped like shrubs by regular pruning or can also be trained on arches & trellis like climbers.

The flowers which are in bud stage look like fruits,
while the flowers which have anthers and stamen have bloomed.

 Sunbirds visit these flowers regularly for nectar.  This plant can be propagated with stem cuttings. Arjun tree also belongs to same family as Combretum (Combretaceae). 

Abrus precatorius - A climber with poisonous seeds and edible leaves

The seeds of Abrus precatorius (family Fabaceae), commonly known as Jequirity or Crab's Eye in English, Gunj (Marathi), Rati (Sanskrit) and Chanoti  (Gujarati), are colourful and poisonous. It is a medium size evergreen climber which is native to India.

The colourful, poisonous seeds of Gunj!

The medium -sized Gunj climber!
(Image credit : Forest & Kimm Star)

In ancient times these seeds were used as a standard weight to weigh gold. In some countries, the seeds are used to make jewelry by the indigenous peoples. Though the seeds are poisonous, the leaves of this plant are edible, often being added to Betel leaf  ‘Vida’, or chewing paan. The leaves taste sweet. 

Edible & sweet!

The common variety has seeds which are mainly red with a prominent black spot, and, there is a variety with completely white seeds also. 

The white-seeded variety

Marmalade bush

The place was Kalimpong in Northern Bengal. In 2007 April while on a visit, I saw this shrub full of dazzling flowers. When the flowers bloom, they are yellow in colour; as they age, they become deep orange. The colours of mix resemble that of marmalade, hence its common name - ‘Marmalade bush”.

It is quite a large shrub with sprawling habit unless trimmed to shape. This plant grows well where the temperature is cold all the year round. It flowers all year round; except where there is snowfall in winters. I have seen these plants only in places like Kalimpong and Darjeeling. So I believe that these plants may not flower where temperatures are high. Its scientific name is Streptosolen jamesonii (Family Solanaceae). It is propagated from stem cuttings.

This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Dudhani (Oxystelma esculentum)

Certain wild plants, native to India, need to be introduced in gardens. One such climber is Oxystelma esculentum (Family Asclepiadaceae). The common name in English is Rosy milkweed vine. It is called as Dudhani and Dugdhika in Marathi  because of the milky sap. 

It is a medium size climber with very dense foliage. Flowering occurs mainly in Summer & Monsoon. The common variety is with flowers having pink center. However, I also found a pure white variety in CME Pune.

Purple variety of "Oxystelma esculentum" creeper, also called as "Dudhaani" (Marathi).

White variety of Dudhaani

Dense foliage of the creeper

Twin pod of Oxystelma, characteristic of the Asclepiadaceae family.

It is easily propagated from stem cuttings. It is a host plant for caterpillars of Common Tiger butterfly.

The Striped Tiger (Danais genutia) [Image credit : JM Garg]

The caterpillar of the Striped Tiger
[Image credit : School of Ecology and Conservation, UAS Bangalore]