Tokma or Pignut, Hyptis suaveolens

-

Tokma or Pignut (Hyptis suaveolens, family: Lamiaceae) is an annual herb with woody stem and profuse branches, attaining a height of 2 m. The whole body of the plant is filled with strong odor and minute hairs. It smells like Tulsi and is called Gonga tulsi or Bilati tulsi. The stem and branches are usually round but quadrangular when young. It is easily identifiable for its many characteristics. 

Other names: Tokmari, Gonga tulsi, Bilati tulsi; Chonga dana (Chakma). 

The plant is not indigenous, but it has adapted very well to the country's condition. That is why it is found in the hilly area, as well as in fallow lands and along roadsides of the plains. The plant is indigenous to tropical America.

Leaves are odorous, hairy, giving a velvety feel. The size and shape of the leaves vary. Its shape can be round, but most of the time it is quite triangular with cordial base; 2-12 cm long and 2-8 cm wide, with deep and irregularly toothed edges. Petiole is long. 

Flowers are tiny, tubular, 5-8 mm long, arise from leaf-axil in group; usually 1 to 5 flowers. The flower is surrounded by a 5-lobbed tubular sepal. 

The two-petalled flower looks strange. The upper petal of the flower is divided into two parts having two deep purple marks and the lower one into three parts. The color of the flowers is purple or pink. Purple is more common in the country.

Fruits are tubular. Seeds are blackish with whitish marks. Flowering and fruiting occur round the year. Propagation is caused by seeds. The seeds are used to make sherbet. It plays a helpful role in the growth of breast milk. It is also a tonic. 

Synonyms: Ballota suaveolens, Bystropogon graveolens, Bystropogon suaveolens, Gnoteris cordata, Gnoteris villosa, Hyptis congesta, Hyptis ebracteata, Hyptis graveolens, Hyptis plumieri, Hyptis suaveolens, Marrubium indicum


Comments

Post a Comment

Week Star

Makal or Mahakal, Trichosanthes tricuspidata

-
Image
Makal or Mahakal ( Trichosanthes tricuspidata , family: Cucurbitaceae) is a woody climber with tendril and branches, attaining a height of 10-12 m. The multiangular-branched plant climbs up very far by holding any tree in the forest. It is found in the hilly areas as well as plain forests and village thickets in Bangladesh. It is also found in Indian subcontinent, Australia and some countries of South and Southeast Asia.  According to ancient Sanskrit scriptures the other names of the plant are Bishala, Mohendro-baruni.  In the Himalayas it has been seen at an altitude of 5000 feet. There are many refferences to the fruit in Bangla and Sanskrit literature. Someone is very nice to look at but he/she is useless--writers usually jokingly give examples of this fruit. Its roots and attractive fruits are packed with medicinal properties.  The size and shape of leaves may vary. These are multilobed or trilobed, alternate, rough in both sides, 5-12 cm long, petioled, cor
Read more

Parul or Fragrant padri tree, Stereospermum chelonoides

-
Image
Parul or Fragrant padri tree ( Stereospermum chelonoides , family: Bignoniaceae) is a medium or large-sized deciduous tree with branches, attaining a height of 25 m. Young shoots are pubescent. Bark is grey.  About this flower, a kind of literary madness has been found for a long period of time among the Bengalees. Although it is mentioned numerous times in Bangla literature, the tree is quite difficult to find in Bangladesh.  The great news is, 5 of its trees are found in the courtyard of Bangladesh Security Printing Press School in Gajipur. India is the original home of the plant. Leaves are compound, 60 cm long; leaflets are entire, 5-11, deep green, glabrous, petioled, elliptic-oblong, 10-15 cm long and 3-6 cm wide, apex acuminate. Flowers are sweet-scented, purplish, yellow at center, campunulate, 3-5 cm long, curved at the base and bronze in color, on terminal panicle; corolla tubular with short petals, petals 5. Flower buds are black and deep p
Read more

Guloncho, Heart-leaved moonseed, Tinospora cordifolia

-
Image
Guloncho or Heart-leaved moonseed ( Tinospora cordifolia , family: Menispermaceae) is a deciduous creeper with hard and long stem, climbing other trees or fences. Bark on the stem is as thin as paper. Aerial roots come out of the stem when the plant grows older. The plant is found everywhere in Bangladesh except southern part. It is also native to South and Southeast Asia.  Common names: Heart-leaved moonseed, Guduchi, Giloy, Guloncho, Guroncho, Padma guloncho. Leaves are simple, green, alternate, cordate, 6-15 cm long and 5-13 cm wide.  Inflorescence, growing from the axil of leaflet branches, bears yellow flowers. Male and female flowers bloom separately. Sepals 6, arranged in two rows, petal 6, pistils 3. Fruit is a drupe, brilliant red when ripe. This attractive fruit is inedible to human.                                                            What an extensive climber! Tinospora cordifolia is used in weakness, tastelessness, rheumatis
Read more