Pseudarthria viscida WIGHT & ARN.

Plectranthus vettiveroides (K.C.Jacob) N.P.Singh & B.D.Sharma

Coleus vettiveroides K.C.Jacob

LAMIACEAE (Labiatae)

                                                                                                        

Vernacular names:

Hindi            - Va/ak

Kannada       - Lavanchi, Muchiva/a

Malayalam     - /ruveli

Sanskrit        - Va/skarn, Udicya

Tamil            - Kuruver, Vettiver

Telugu          - Kuriveru, Vettiveru

 

Threat status:

Not Evaluated - KA, KL & TN

 

Habit: Herb

 

Habitat: In sandy loams along riverbanks in plains

 

Altitude: 25 - 500 m

 

Distribution: Possibly endemic, probably extinct in the wild. In the early 20th century cultivated in a large scale in North Arcot, Coimbatore, Madurai, Thanjavur, Tirunelveli and Chengalpattu districts in Tamil Nadu. Today it is under cultivation only in four villages near Kollidam in Thanjavur district. Not available in Karnataka and Kerala.

 

Description: A sub-succulent bushy pubescent herb, growing 30­120 cm tall. Roots fibrous, 30-60 cm long, forming a tuft, slender, very thin, easily cut-off, strongly fragrant, straw-colour when fresh, changing dark on drying. Stems faintly 4-angled, light brown, sub­succulent, densely minutely hairy. Leaves opposite, sub-orbicular to egg-shaped, 10-15 x 9-14 cm, base and apex rounded, margin toothed with triangular teeth, sub-fleshy to leathery, with dense white minute hairs on both surfaces; lateral nerves 10-13 pairs, less prominent above, prominent below, all nerves arising from the base of the leaves and joining along the margins just below the dentations. Each dentation about 1 cm long with 1 or 2 small lateral serrations; leaf stalks 4-13 long, sub-succulent, minutely hairy, with a central groove.

 

Phenology: Flowers and fruits have not been seen by anyone so far

 

Notes: Probably the only species of Coleus, not having fragrant leaves, but scented roots. The local Tamil name 'vettiver originally referred only to Coleus vettiveroides. I n recent times the name' vettiver' is erroneously applied to an entirely different grass species, Vetiveria zizanioides, whose root posses the same properties. V. zizanioides is known by two linguistic names, Velamichai veT in Tamil and Ramacham in Malayalam. As Coleus vettiveroides is becoming rare and the roots not readily available in the market, roots of the easily available V. zizanioides is substituted. Conse­quently the name' vettiver' is bei ng taken over by the latter from the former.

 

Medicinal uses: Roots are antipyretic, used in treating burning eyes, diarrhoea, fever, intrinsic haemorrhage, hyperdipsia, strangury, leprosy, leucoderma, ulcer, vomiting, skin diseases, giddiness, headache, insan­ity and quenching thirst. Also used to promote the growth of hair.

 

Trade information: Local. Dried roots are sold in Chennai at Rs. 120.00 to 150.00 per kg. and fresh roots at Rs. 40.00 to 60.00 per kg. In southern India the roots are used as a substitute of Taggar (Valeriana jatamans/).

 

Mode of propagation: By stem cuttings

 

Special characters: This plant is almost similar to Coleus aromaticus (Karpoora valli - Tami_. Leaves are not fragrant at all. The roots, how­ever, are strongly scented.

 

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