Trichopus
zeyJanicus Gaertn.
subsp.
travancoricus (Bedd.) Burkill
TRICHOPODACEAE (Dioscoreaceae)
Vernacular names:
Malayalam - Aarokya pacha, Saasthan kizhangu
Tamil - Aarokya pachai
Threat
status:
Endangered
(A 1 c,d) - Globally
Habit:
Herb
Habitat:
In dense
shady moist areas and slopes of semi-evergreen to evergreen
forests
Altitude:
500 - 850
m
Distribution: Endemic
to
southern Western Ghats. Regional: Located as an
undergrowth in the hills of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. In Kerala,
locally abundant in dense forests of Boneccard, Kallar in
Thiruvananthapuram district and Kulathupuzha and Achankoil in
Kollam district. In Tamil Nadu, locally common in Keeriparai,
Peechiparai and Mahendragiri hills in Kanniyakumari district.
Also in Kalakad Tiger Reserve and Agasthiarmalai hills in
Tirunelveli district. Some authors opine that this taxon also
occurs in Malaysia and Thailand. This needs critical study. Not
available in Karnataka.
Description:
A
perennial erect herb. Stems several, slender, 4-12
cm long, cylindrical, hairless, rigid, purplish brown, arising
from an underground rhizome. Rhizome is short,
stout, about 2 cm long, brown. Roots grey,
numerous, fibrous, arising at the base of the rhizome.
Leaves single in each stem, triangular egg-shaped to
egg-shapedlanceolate, 6-15 x 3-8 cm, base truncate to slightly
heart-shaped or rounded, apex acute and minutely apiculate,
margin entire, leathery, hairless, dark green occasionally with
purplish shade, with 5-7 nerves emerging from the base of the
leaves; leaf stalks 3-7 cm long, rigid, purplish brown,
hairless, with a central groove. Flowers bisexual,
3-5, clustered at the base of the leaves on about 3 cm long
slender stalks, 1 cm across, dark brown. Fruits
ellipsoid, distinctly 3-angled, indehiscent, 1-2.5 cm long,
hairless, dark-brown. Seeds 6, oblong, with
grooves on the upper side.
Phenology: Flowering
&
Fruiting:
November
to March
Medicinal uses:
Fruits are
used by Kani tribes to increase strength and energy.
Possesses strong antifatigue properties. Shows potent
antistress, energy boosting, anti-hepatotoxic and immuno-modulating
properties. Used for gaining evergreen health, energy and
preventing ageing-related disorders.
Trade
information:
Local and
regional
Mode of
propagation:
By
rhizomes and seeds
Special
characters:
This
curious herb displace a bunch of leaves projecting above the
ground. Stems are many, each bearing a single leaf. Stems and
stalks of leaves look similar in shape, size, structure and
colour. The joint of stem and leaf stalk is clearly demarcated
by a distinct swelling.
