Adenia hondala (GAERTN.) W.J.DE WILDE
Family: Passifloraceae

Vernacular names:
Kannada: Kempu chendu hannina balli
Malayalam: Modecca, Muthukku, Palmothankku
Sanskrit: Vidari

Threat status:
Vulnerable (A1c,d)- KA & KL
Lower Risk near threatened- TN

Habit: Tuberous climber
Habitat: Moist deciduous to semi-evergreen forests.
Altitude: 450-1000m.

Distribution:
Global: Ghats of southern India and Sri Lanka.
National: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Regional: In Maharashtra, reported only from Nanapani (Amboli) and Bhedsi. It is seen almost throughout the Western Ghats in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Description: Large climbing shrubs with prominent tubers. Tubers robust, in different shapes, usually larger, 10-50 cm long, 5-20cm broad, greenish white inside. Tendrils arise in leaf axils and bear flowers. Stems swollen at nodes. Leaves alternate, palmately 3-5 lobed, broadly egg shaped in outline, 10-18x8-20cm, base heart-shaped, 3-5 nerved from the base, with 2 glands just at the base and another 2 glands seen above them; lobes elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, apex acute-acuminate, margin entire, shiny, hairless; leaf stalks up to 8cm long. Flowers unisexual; male flowers many and female flowers solitary or few, arranged in axillary cymes, greenish yellow, 1 cm long, 1.5 cm across. Capsules globose or ellipsoid, 3-5x2-4cm, orange –red when ripe, splitting into 3 valves, with leathery rind. Seeds numerous, egg-shaped or kidney-shaped, flat, covered with membranous white aril.

Trade information: Local and regional. Known as Mutukku or Karimuttukku in Kerala. It is sold in the market as Vidari.

Special characters: This is a climbing shrub with irregularly shaped, conspicuous tubers, which are sometimes partially exposed. Glands below the leaves are distinct, circular, stalkless and greenish. Tendrils bear flowers. Petals with dissected tips. Capsules are stricking orange-yellow in colour.

Medicinal Uses: This species has been used as medicine since the 17th century. Tubers are reportedly poisonous. It may be an adulterant or an unauthorized substitute. The roots are reportedly used as Ayurvedic plant drug Vidari. Local people near Agumbe (Karnataka) use the tubers for treating hernia.

Phenology:
Flowering: March to May
Fruiting: June to November.

Information compiled from the publication: Ravikumar K. and Ved D.K.(2000), 100 Red Listed Medicinal Plants of Conservation Concern in Southern India, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions,Bangalore.

Photocourtesty: K.Ravikumar, FRLHT.

Glycosmis macrocarpa WT.
Family: Rutaceae

Threat status:
Vulnerable (B1 & 2c)- Globally

Habit: Shrub.
Habitat: Evergreen forest.
Altitude: 550 - 1800m

Distribution:
National: Endemic to southern Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Regional: In Kerala, occasional in dense ever green forests of Cannonore (Chandanathode, Nedumpouil), Malapuram (Nilambur-Ampumala) and Thrissur (Sholayar) districts. In Tamil Nadu, rare in the forests of Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari. Not reported in Karnataka.

Description: Shrubs 1-3 m tall. Branchlets without hairs. Leaves alternate, odd-pinnate; leaflets 3-5, alternate, oblong-elliptic or egg-shaped-oblanceolate, 7-23x4-9 cm, base wedge-shaped, apex acuminate, margin entire, hairless, with short prominent stalk; lateral nerves 5-7 pairs, prominent below, faint above with fine reticulations. Flowers bisexual, arranged in axillary or terminal short panicles, white or pale yellow, about 5 mm long. Berries sub-globose, constricted below and depressed above, about 2x1.5 cm, smooth, shiny with gland dots, rosy when ripe. Seeds single.

Special characters: Leaves emit a string pleasant aroma when crushed. Mature fruits are rose-coloured and sweet.

Mode of propagation: By seeds, stem cutting and apical shoots

Medicinal Uses: Leaf juice is used for the treatment of fever, liver complaints, vermifuge, eczema and other skin troubles.

Phenology:
Flowering: March to June.
Fruiting: May to December.

Notes: Occurrence of this species in Sri Lanka and Burma (as reported in the Flora of Trissur & Flora of Nilambur) is doubtful, K. Narayanan Nair & M.P Nayar (Flora of India, Vol-4, 1998), in their revision on Rutaceae, stated that it is endemic to Southern Western Ghats of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Information compiled from the publication: Ravikumar K. and Ved D.K.(2000), 100 Red Listed Medicinal Plants of Conservation Concern in Southern India, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions,Bangalore.

Photocourtesty: K.Ravikumar, FRLHT.

Aphanamixis polystacchya (WALL.) PARKER
Family: Meliaceae

Vernacular names:
Hindi: Harin hara
Kannada: Mullu muttaga, Rohithaca
Malayalam: Chemmaram
Sanskrit: Rohitaka
Tamil: Chemmaram, Vellai kongu, Pechambagai, Melampuluvam
Telugu: Chevamanu

Threat status:
Vulnerable (A1c)- KA & KL
Data deficient- TN

Habit: Tree.
Habitat: Moist deciduous to evergreen forest

Distribution:
Global: India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
National: Occurs almost throughout India except north and northwestern regions.
Regional: Common in higher altitudes of Western Ghats and occasional in the Eastern Ghats of Southers India.

Description: Trees growing 8-20 m tall with umbrella shaped crown.

Bark smooth, about 5 mm thick, shy brown, often mottled with green, reddish inside. Branchlets robust, often mottled with green, reddish inside. Brachklets robust, often with small scurfy scales. Leaves alternate, odd pinnate, 20-70 cm long; leaflets 9-15, opposite or subalternate, oblong-lanceolate to egg-shaped oblong, 8-25x4-10 cm, base unequal, apex abruptly acuminate, margin entire, leathery, hairless with distinct stalks; lateral nerves 12-17 pairs. Flowers unisexual. Stalkless, dull-white; male flowers in branched spike as long as leaves, about 5 mm across; female flowers in simple spikes which are shorter than male spikes; both the spikes are usually drooping. Capsules globose to pear-shaped, 3-4 cm across, smooth , shiny, yellow when ripe, splitting into 3-5 valves. Seeds 2 or 3, covered with scarlet aril.

Trade information: Local and commercial. The stem bark is commonly traded as Roheda chaal or Rakta rohida.

Special characters: Leaves are crowded at the end of branchlets. Flowering and fruiting spikes are distinctly longer and dropp. Dehiscing capsules are yellow and the fleshy aril is scarlet.

Mode of propagation: By seeds.

Medicinal Uses: The bark is used to treat enlargement of liver, Spleen and abdominal complaints. Seed oil is Applied in sores and asaliniment in rheumatism. Bark is used for treating tumours.

Phenology:
Flowering & Fruiting: September to November & January to July

Information compiled from the publication: Ravikumar K. and Ved D.K.(2000), 100 Red Listed Medicinal Plants of Conservation Concern in Southern India, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions,Bangalore.

Photocourtesty: K.Ravikumar, FRLHT.

Michelia nilagirica ZENK.
Family: Magnoliaceae

Vernacular names:
Hindi: Pila champa
Kannada: Dodda sampige
Malayalam: Kattu chempakam, Vella chempakam
Marathi: Pilachampa
Tamil: Kattu shenbagam, Nilagari chempakam, Sappa maram
Telugu: Tella sampanga

Threat status:
Vulberable (A1c)- Globally

Habit: Tree
Habitat: Evergreen to Shola forests.
Altitude: Above 1500m

Distribution:
National: Endemic to Western Ghats of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Regional: In Karnataka, recorded only in Bababudan hills and Biligi Rangaswamy Temple hills, In Kerala, recorded only in Munnar. In Tamil Nadu, recerded in Southern Western Ghats from Nilgiri to Tirunelveli.

Description: Trees, up to 15 m tall. The heartwood is yellow. Young branches are densely matted with wooly hairs and become dark when dry. Leaves inverted egg-shaped, 5-10x3-7 cm hairless, base acute, apex sub-acuminate, margin entire. Stipules about 3 cm long, Flowers bisexual, arise singly in leaf stalks up to 2 cm long. Flowers bisexual, arise singly in leaf axils, less than 6 cm across, fragrant white to cream, distinctly stalked. Fruits found in clusters pendulous. Each fruitlet is egg-shaped, about 2 cm long. Seeds 1-2.

Special characters: Similar to Michelia champaca in almost all characters but mainly differes in having smaller leaves; the flowers are usually white, rarely cream.

Mode of propagation: By seeds.

Medicinal Uses: The bark and leaves are considered febrifuge.

Phenology:
Flowering & Fruiting: March to May; August to September.

Information compiled from the publication: Ravikumar K. and Ved D.K.(2000), 100 Red Listed Medicinal Plants of Conservation Concern in Southern India, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions,Bangalore.

Photocourtesty: K.Ravikumar, FRLHT.

Knema attenuate (WALL.) WARB.
Family: Myristicacceae

Vernacular names:
Kannada: Ratha mara
Tamil: Chorapattiri, Suriya pathri, Kariyan

Threat status:
Lower Risk near threatened- Globally

Habit: Semi-evergreen to evergreen forests
Altitude: 700-1600m.

Distribution:
National: Endemic to southerwestern India.
Regional: Frequent in the western ghats, from Konkan southwards, of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Description: Medium seized trees, 10-18m tall, about 1.5m dirth. Bark 5-8 mm thick, smooth, greenish black to grey-brown mottles with green and whiter, with irregular exfoliation, exuding watery reddish latex when cut freshly.
Blaze pinkish red. Branches from the main stem in whorls, horizontal drooping; branchlets with yellowish brown tomentose hairs. Leaves alternate, elliptic lanceolate with yellowish brown tomentose hairs. Leaves alternate, elliptic lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 10-25x4-7 cm, base rounded, apex acuminate, margin entire, hairless above, brown tomentose and blue-green tinged along the nerves below, distinctly stalked; lateral nerves 10-20 pairs, joining along the margin. Flowers unisexual, male and female flowers seen in separate trees, distinctly stalked, urn-shaped, brown tomentose hairs outside, hairless and pink inside. Male flowers arise in axillary clusters on stout and short stalks, 5-6 mm long. Female flowers 1-3 in lead axils. Drupes ovoid, 2.5-4x1.5-2 cm, densely brown tomentose. Seeds solitary, egg shaped and enclosed within a crimson red-coloured fleshy aril.

Trade information: Local and regional.

Special characters: Main branches from the stem are arranged in whorls and horizontally droop like Terminalia catappa (Almond tree). Young brachlets and leaves are densely clothed with yellowish brown tomentose hairs. Vertically splitting fruits expose seeds which are completely covered by attractive fleshy crimson red aril.

Mode of propagation: By seeds.

Medicinal Uses: It is one of the ingredient of ‘Ashwagandhadhi nei’ (medicated ghee) used for treatment of spleen disorders, breathing disorders and tastelessness.

Phenology:
Flowering: November to February.
Fruiting: February to May.

Information compiled from the publication: Ravikumar K. and Ved D.K.(2000), 100 Red Listed Medicinal Plants of Conservation Concern in Southern India, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions,Bangalore.

Photocourtesty: K.Ravikumar, FRLHT.

Curcuma pseudomontana GRAHAM.
Family: Zingiberaceae

Vernacular names:
Malayalam: Kattu manjal
Tamil: Kattu Manjal

Threat status:
Vulnerable (A1c)- Globally

Habit: Moist shady areas of wet forests and along sluggish grassy sloped of higher altitude
Altitude: 300-1500m

Distribution:
National: Endemic to peninsular India. Rajasthan (Aravalli hills), Madhaya Pradesh and southern Indian states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhta Pradesh including Eastern and Western Ghats.
Regional: In Karnataka, occurs in upper grasslands of Chikmagalur, Mysore, Dakshina Kannada and Hassan districts. In Kerala, occasional in open grassy areas of lower Ghats of Palakkad and Thrissur. In Tamil Nadu, seen in higher grasslands of Coimbatore hills and High wavy mountains.

Description: An erect herb, reaching 75cm tall, with stout rootstock bearing small almond-like sub-globose tubers at the ends of the fibrous roots. The tubers are fleshy and white inside, aromatic. Leaves 3-5 oblong-lanceolate, 20-30x 6-9cm, base acute, apex acuminate, margin entire, hairless, shiny; leaf stalk and the lead sheath up to 20cm long. Flowering spikes seen in the center of the previously formed tuft of leaves 10-25 cm long, bearing numerous compacity arranged flowering bracts conspicuous, inverted egg-shaped to lanceolate, 3-5x1.5-2 cm, apex rounded to acute, hairless, green with a pink tip. Non-flowering bracts (coma) oblong-lanceolate, conspicuous, purple below and pinkish purple above. Flowers bisexual, 2-4 in each fertile bract. Splitting by 3 valves, smooth seeds avoid or oblong, usually covered with arils.

Trade information: Local, Rhizome cuttings, Clonal propagation and seeds

Special characters: This plant can immediately be immediately be recognized by its funner-shaped bright yellow flowers. Flowering spikes consist of two types of bracts-fertile and sterile. The fertile bracts are seen at the lower half, containing flowers; the sterile bracts are placed are seen at the lower half, without flowers. Both bracts are brightly coloured. Tubers emit fragrance when freshly broken.

Mode of propagation: By rhizome cuttings, clonal propagation and seeds

Medicinal Uses: The savara tribes in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh use tuber extract to cure jaundice. Jatapu and Koya trines apply warm tuber paste to treat body swellings. Women of Katapau and Savara tribes eat boiled tubers to increase lactation. Khond tribes apply tuber paste on the head for cooling effect.

Phenology:
Flowering & Fruiting: April to September.

Information compiled from the publication: Ravikumar K. and Ved D.K.(2000), 100 Red Listed Medicinal Plants of Conservation Concern in Southern India, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions,Bangalore.

Photocourtesty: K.Ravikumar, FRLHT.

Drosera indica L.
Family: Droseraceae

Vernacular names:
Kannada: Krimi nashini
Malayalam: Theepullu, Akara puda
Tamil: Azhu kanni, Olukanni, Ottunni, Kosu otti

Threat status:
Endangered (A1c,d)- KA
Lower Risk least concern- KL & TN

Habit: Herb.
Habitat: Among grasses, in open moist rocky areas from plains to grassy slopes of higher altitudes.
Altitude: 50-1500m

Distribution:
Global: Tropical Africa, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, India to Japan, New Guinea and Australia.
National: Found in most states except Himalayan region.
Regional: Usually seen near marshy localities from plains to higher altitudes of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Description: A slender erect tuberous herb, 3-15 tall, glandular-pubescent throughout, usually unbranched. Tubers single, very small. Leaves are of two types: the basal leaves are clustered just above the soil surface, deflexed, up to 2.5cm long; the upper leaves alternate, narrow, linear, 2-3 cm long, with many sticky glandular tentacles above and hairless below. Flowers 5-15 arranged in lateral racemes, about 5mm across, pink to rose. Capsules avoid, minute.

Trade information: Local and regional.

Special characters: It is a curious insect-trapping plant. The trapping is efficiently carries out by the characteristic glandular sticky leaves (between which small insects are caught and digested). A beautiful sight is the plants springing up with the monsoon in larger populations with striking pink flowers.

Mode of propagation: By tubers, seeds, divisions and lead cuttings

Medicinal Uses: This plant is considered to be a rejuvenating herb and more widely used in alchemy. Also used to cure corns.

Phenology:
Flowering: November to January
Fruiting: December to March

Information compiled from the publication: Ravikumar K. and Ved D.K.(2000), 100 Red Listed Medicinal Plants of Conservation Concern in Southern India, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions,Bangalore.

Photocourtesty: K.Ravikumar, FRLHT.

Paphiopedilum druryi (BEDD.) STEIN.
Family: Orchidaceae

Threat status:
Critically endangered (B1 &3c)- Globally

Habit: Terrestrial herb
Habitat: Shady forest floors, amidst grasses, near rocky and grassy slopes at higher altitudes.
Altitude: 1500m

Distribution:
National: Endemic to Southern Western Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Regional: Very rare, in the western slopes of Agastiyarmalai hills, Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala. In Tamil Nadu, very rarely seen in the eastern slopes of Agastiyarmalai hills and Singampatti in Kalakad range, Thirunelveli district. Not recorded in Karnataka.

Description: A terrestrial perennial herb, growing up to 1 m tall.

Rhizomes stout, straw-coloured, creeping horizontally on the floor, up to 1 m long, producing 5-6 shoots. Stem purplish green , woody, up to 30 cm long. Roots thick, fleshy and fibrous. Leaves more or less crowded at the base of the stem, distichously arranged, strap-shaped, 15-25x2-3 cm, base narrowed, apex green, glossy. Flowers bisexual, solitary, terminal, 4-6cm across, yellowish green streaked and blotched with reddish purple, seated in 15-40 cm long purplish pubescent peduncle. The lip of flower is helmet-shaped, bright yellow with reddish purple spots.

Trade information: Over exploited for horticultural purpose.

Special characters: This precious orchid can immediately be recognized by its long leathery ribbon-like compactly arranged glossy leaves. The attractive large single flower, with inviting golden yellow colour is speckled with reddish purple spots arising on long purplish hairy stalk.

Mode of propagation: By rhizome cuttings and seeds

Medicinal Uses: IUCN Plant Red Data Book (1978) suggested that it is used medicinally in India.

Phenology:
Flowering: March to April.

Notes: included in the negative list of exports notified by Govt. of India (Notification 2 (RE-98) dt 13.4.98, 1997-2002)

Degradation of habitat and over collection from natural populations are the major factors for decline of this narrow endemic, precious and rare orchid.

Information compiled from the publication: Ravikumar K. and Ved D.K.(2000), 100 Red Listed Medicinal Plants of Conservation Concern in Southern India, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions,Bangalore.

Photocourtesty: K.Ravikumar, FRLHT.

Persea macrantha (NEES) KOST.
Family: Lauraceae

Vernacular names:
Kannada: Kulur maava, Kurma mara, Seeme maavu, Gulmao
Malayalam: Ooravu, Kula mavu
Marathi: Gulum
Tamil: Kula mavoo, Kola mavu, Aniakkuru
Telugu: Nara

Threat status:
Endangered (A1c,d)- KA & TN
Vulnerable (A1c,d)- KL

Habit: Tree
Habitat: Semi-evergreen to evergreen forests.
Altitude: 700-2000m

Distribution:
Global: Peninsular India and Sri Lanka.
National: Recorded in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
Regional: Common in the higher altitudes of Western and Eastern Ghats in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Description: Densely foliaceous evergreen tree, reaching 35m tall and about 2.5m girth. Crown diffused. Bark 2-3 cm thick, rough, surface pale brown, mottled with dark blotches, with thin brittle exfoliations. Blaze white with pink tinge. Branchlets hairless. Leaves alternate, usually crowded at apices, elliptic-oblong, 10-20x4-8cm, base rounded or truncate to rarely acute, apex bluntly acute, margin entire, hairless, leathery, green above and bluish green below; lateral nerves 6-9 pairs; leaf stalks 2.5-4 cm long, Flowers bisexual, about 1 cm across, pale yellow, mildly fragrant, arranged in about 30cm long terminal and axillary panicles. Berries globose, about 1.5 cm across, green with white speckles turning black when ripe, smooth, shiny and hairless.

Trade information: Bark of this tree is in regional trade and constitutes an important raw material consumed by the ‘Agar bathi’ industries.

Special characters: The bark is thick and fleshy. Leaves are crowded at the tip of branchlets. Leaves and unripe fruits emit a typical mango lead smell when crushed. The backside of leaves is distinctly blue-green coloured.

Mode of propagation: By seeds and stem cuttings.

Medicinal Uses: The stem bark is used for treatment of asthma, convulsions constipation and rheumatism.

Phenology:
Flowering: December to April
Fruiting: May to June

Information compiled from the publication: Ravikumar K. and Ved D.K.(2000), 100 Red Listed Medicinal Plants of Conservation Concern in Southern India, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions,Bangalore.

Photocourtesty: K.Ravikumar, FRLHT.

Swertia corymbosa (GRISEB.) WT. EX CLARKE
Family: Gentianaceae

Threat status:
Vulnerable (A1c)- Globally

Habit: Herb
Habitat: Grasslands of higher altitudes.
Altitude: 800-2500m

Distribution:
National: Endemic to peninsular India.
Regional: Along exposed grassy slopes of Western Ghats in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and in the Eastern Ghats in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and in the Eastern Ghats of Mahendragiri hills, Ganjam, Orissa. Many fragmented populations have been noticed in the higher altitudes of Kerala (Idukki, Pathanamthitta), Karnataka (Coorg, Hassan, Chickmagalur and Mysore) and Tamil Nadu (Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Madutai and Yercaud in Salem).

Description: An erect branched herb, 30-75 cm tall. Stems 4 angled.

Leaves opposite, egg-shaped-lanceolate to elliptic-oblanceolate, stalkles or minutely stalked, 2-4x1-2cm, base rounded or truncate, apex bluntly apiculate, papery, hairless, with prominent 3-5 nerves arising from the base. Flowers in terminal branched 10-20cm long corymbose cymes, about 1 cm across, densely arranged, white or pale blue with purplish veins, distinctly stalked. Capsules oblong, 5-6 mm long, dehiscing by 2 valves.Seeds many, minute

Trade information: Whole plant is a possible substitute for the highly traded Swertia chirayita of northern India.

Special characters: Lower leaves are more crowded than upper leaves and often falling early. Stems with 4 distinct angles. Petals having a single dot-like honey gland at the base which is covered with a minute fimbriate scaly appendage, and unique character.

Mode of propagation: By seeds.

Medicinal Uses: Roots used for the treatment of vernereal diseases, skin troubles, sores, swellings and abscess. Also applied for rheumatism and pains in the lower extremities.

Phenology:
Flowering & Fruiting: October to December.

Information compiled from the publication: Ravikumar K. and Ved D.K.(2000), 100 Red Listed Medicinal Plants of Conservation Concern in Southern India, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions,Bangalore.

Photocourtesty: K.Ravikumar, FRLHT.

Symplocos cochinchinensis S.MOORE
Family: Symplocaceae

Vernacular names:
Hindi: Lodh
Kannada: Boodaganni, Changa, Manjatte
Malayalam: Pachottu
Sanskrit: Lodhrah
Tamil: Kambli vetti, Pithakkottai, Vasapa maram

Threat status:
Lower Risk near threatened- KA
Lower Risk least concern- KL & TN

Habit: Tree.
Habitat: borders, slopes and along riversides from wet deciduous to shoal forests.
Altitude: 300-2200m

Distribution:
Global: India to Malaysia, China and Japan.
National: Widely distributed in evergreen forests from Himalayan to Southern India and Shola forests of Western Ghats.
Regional: Very common in the moist to evergreen forests of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Description: Medium sized trees, 8-18 m tall, about 1 m girth. Bark smooth, light grey, thin, about 4 mm thick. Blaze creamy white. Wood white, soft and even-grained. Branchlets hairless. Leaves alternate, egg-shaped to elliptic-lanceolate, 5-16x3-6cm, base acute, apex rounded-acuminate, margin toothed with rounded to saw-like teeth, leathery, glossy, distinctly stalked, hairless; lateral nerves 6-8 pairs. Flowers bisexual, stalkless, in simple or branches axillary spikes, about 8 mm across, white, fragrant. Drupes globose or conical, about 8x6mm, faintly ribbed, smooth, crowned with an apical ring, ripening purplish blue. Seeds 1-3, oblong.

Trade information: Local and regional. Stem bark is used as a substitute for ‘Lodhra’ (Symplocos racemosa) in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Priced at Rs. 4/kg (Kerala 1993).

Special characters: Mature leaves turn yellow and form a yellow carpet under the tree. Fresh leaves taste sour. The new flush of leaves is purplish pink. Stems and branchlets always covered with greenish yellow lichen patches.

Mode of propagation: By seeds and stem cuttings.

Medicinal Uses: Stem bark is used in the treatment of uterine complaints, virginal diseases and menstrual disorders. Useful in treating diarrhea, dysentery, eye diseases, fever, cough, ulcers, swellings, menorrhagia and leucorrhoea. A decoction of the bark is used as a gargle for giving firmness to spongy and bleeding gums.

Information compiled from the publication: Ravikumar K. and Ved D.K.(2000), 100 Red Listed Medicinal Plants of Conservation Concern in Southern India, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions,Bangalore.

Photocourtesty: K.Ravikumar, FRLHT.

Tinospora sinensis (LOUR.) MERR.
Family: Menispermaceae

Vernacular names:
Kannada: Sudarsana balli
Malayalam: Pee-amerdu, kattu amirthu
Sanskrit: Vatsadani, Sudarasana, Amrta
Telugu: Thippa theega

Threat status:
Vulnerable (A1c)- KA
Lower Risk near threatened- KL
Not evaluated- TN

Habit: Climber
Habitat: Along streams, rocky valleys and in disturbed forests from deciduous to semi-evergreen.
Altitude: 600-1000m

Distribution:
Global: India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.
National: Occurs in Assam, Orissa, Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala.
Regional: Occasional in semi-evergreen forests of Western Ghats in Karnataka. Fairly common in moist forests of Kerala. Not reported from Tamil Nadu.

Description: Deciduous, Climbing shrubs. Stem with prominent, scattered lenticels. Bark papery, grayish white. Latex watery. Tender branches with distinct white hairs. Leaves alternate, broadly egg-shaped, 7-17x4-13 cm, base heart-shaped, apex acuminate, margin entire sparingly pubescent in upper surface and densely pubescent in lower surface, basal nerves 5-7; leaf stalk up to 10 cm long, hairy. Flowers are formed in racemes from the axils of fallen leaves and also on the old stem, greenish yellow, many, 5mm across. Male and female flowers are seen separately in the same plant. Drupes 1-3 in a cluster, spherical- shaped, about 1-5cm across, turning orange red when ripe.

Trade information: Local, regional and national. Stem pieces are traded as ‘Giloy’along with T. cordifolia and priced at Rs.10 to 15/kg (Market studies 1999-2000)

Special characters: This plant appears similar to Tinospora cordifolia in all aspects but distinctly differs in having dense hairs covering all plant parts. Stems have prominent white dot-like structures called lenticels. Fruits are attractive orange-red.

Mode of propagation: By stem cuttings and seeds.

Medicinal Uses: The tuberous roots are useful in curing inflammations, ulcers, scrofula, bleeding piles, white discharge, skin disease, leprosy, indigestion, helminthiasis, snake bites, baldness, intermittent fever and debility. Roots are given internally as an antidote for snake poison. Considered useful in promoting labour and expulsion of the placenta. If consumed in large doses, it is highly poisonous, it causes vomiting, purging, stomachache and burning sensation. Seeds are used for relieving rheumatic pain and as a muscle relaxant.

Phenology:
Flowering: December to February
Fruiting: Janauary to May

Information compiled from the publication: Ravikumar K. and Ved D.K.(2000), 100 Red Listed Medicinal Plants of Conservation Concern in Southern India, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions,Bangalore.

Photocourtesty: K.Ravikumar, FRLHT.