Aristolochia tagala Cham.

A. roxburghiana Klotzsch

A. acuminata Roxb.

 

ARISTOLOCHIACEAE

 

Vernacular names:

Kannada           - Dodda ishwari balli

Malayalam        - Garuda kodi, Eswara mulla

Tamil               - Kozhikkoodu kodi, Periya eswara mooli

 
Th reat status:

Vulnerable (A 1 c,d) – KA

Lower Risk least concern - KL

Data Deficient - TN

 

Habit: Climbing shrub

 

Habitat: Semi-evergreen to evergreen forests

 

Altitude: 600 - 1400 m

 

Distribution: Global: India, Sri Lanka, western and southern China and Malaysia. National: Western & Eastern Ghats of southern India; also in Tripura, Assam and West Bengal towards northeastern Himalayas. Regional: Commonly seen on thickets, shola edges and in disturbed forests of higher altitudes in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

 

Description: A large climbing shrub. Roots stout, brown outside, creamy white inside, strongly aromatic. Branches stout, vertically grooved, hairless. Leaves alternate, egg-shaped-oblong, 15-30 x 6-15 cm, base deeply heart-shaped, apex acuminate, margin entire, hairless, papery; 5-nerves arising from the base; leaf stalks 2-4 cm long, often twisted. Flowers bisexual, about 4, in 7-8 cm long axillary lax racemes, distinctly stalked; perianth purplish brown, about 7 cm long, hairless or puberulous outside, sparsely hairy inside, mouth about 1 cm across, with about 5 cm long lip. Capsules globose to pear-shaped, about 4 x 3 cm, obscurely 6-ridged, dehiscing by 6 sub-woody valves. Seeds numerous, heart-shaped, flat, about 8 mm across, surrounded by distinct white papery wing, brown, hairless.

 

Phenology: Flowering: May to July & August to November; Fruiting: almost throughout the year

 

Medicinal uses: Roots are carminative. Leaves are emmengogue and tonic. The entire plant is used to treat colic, fits and bowel complaints. Kani tribes use the roots for sudorification (medicated steam bath) and various dermatological conditions including psoriasis. Fresh or dried roots are administered internally for snake poison; the paste is applied externally on the bitten spot. Also used in bone fracture, indigestion, malaria, rheumatism and toothache.

 

Trade information: Local and regional. Roots are traded as adulterant to Aristolochia indica under the trade name Ishwarmool, Isroll, Sapsand, Ishwari.

 

Mode of propagation: By seeds, cuttings, divisions and layers

 

Special characters: This species resembles Aristolochia indica in all aspects but has larger leaves, fruits and longer flowers. The leaves almost look like betel leaves. The dehisced mature fruit looks like an inverted parachute. A bite of the root makes the mouth numb.