Decalepis
hamiltonii
Wight & Arn.
PERIPLOCACEAE
Vernacular names:
Kannada
-
Magadi
beru
Malayalam -
Nannari
Sanskrit - Sariba, Sveta sariva
Tamil - MahaN kizhangu, Mavilinga kilangu,
Peru nannari
Telugu
-
Neemam
theega
(Chenchu
tribes), Maredu geddalu
Threat
status:
Endangered
(A 1 c,d) - Globally
Habit:
Woody
climber
Habitat:
In open
rocky slopes and rocky cervices of dry to moist deciduous
forests
Altitude:
300 - 1200
m
Distribution: Endemic
to central
peninsular India.
Regional:
Fairly
common in the dry hill tracts of Eastern and Western Ghats in
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In Kerala, few plants
have been noticed (Dr.N.Sasidharan, 1998) in the deciduous belt
of Marayur, Chinnar, Idukki district.
Description:
A large
hairless extensively climbing shrub. Latex sticky
and milky. Branches jointed, slightly angled and with swollen
nodes. Young branchlets, leaves and the leaf nerves are shiny,
distinctly greenish pink and hairless. Leaves
opposite, egg-shaped to round shaped, about 7 x 5 cm, base
gradually tapering to truncate, apex sub-acute to rounded,
margin entire to wavy; leaf stalks about 1 cm long.
Flowers yellow, small, mm across, arranged in
3-times branched cymes.
Follicles
cylindrically oblong, about 5 x 3 cm and woody when dry.
Seeds many, egg-shaped, about 6 x 4 mm, with long white
silky hairs.
Phenology: Leaf fall:
January;
New foliage: February to April; Flowering:
April to July; Fruiting: August to
November
Medicinal uses:
Tuberous
roots are used as a cooling agent and bloodpurifier. Hence used
to prepare refreshing drinks. Roots are used to cure
indigestion, deficient digestive power, dysentery, cough,
bronchitis, leucorrhoea, uterine haemorrhage, skin diseases,
fever, thirst, vomiting, poisoning, chronic rheumatism, anemia,
debility, dysuria and blood diseases.
Trade
information:
Local,
regional and national. Roots are traded. Price per kg Rs. 40 to
60 (1998-1999, Delhi kirana; Bangalore Market); As. 48
(1998-1999, Madurai large scale trader); Rs. 11043 (1996,
Girijan Co-op. Soc., Andhra Pradesh); Rs. 14.64 (1997, Girijan
Co-op. Soc., Andhra Pradesh). In southern India, roots
are commonly used to substitute
Hemidesmus indicus
(Anantmool).
Priced at Rso4O to 60/Kg. (Market Studies, 1999-2000).
Mode of propagation:
By
seeds, stem cuttings and root suckers
Special
characters:
This is a
monotypic genus. Roots are long, fleshy and aromatic. Plants,
when bruised, exude white sticky watery latex. Dried fruits
shrink and remain thus till next season.
