Elephant Creeper

Elephant Creeper

(Argyreia nervosa, Argyreia speciosa)

Family: Convolvulaceae

other names.

Woolly Morning Glory, Woodrose, Silver Elephant Creeper, Hawaiian Baby Woodrose

A native of eastern India and Bangladesh, this vigorous twiner will grow 30 ft (9 m) or more into the treetops, but can be trained over a post or stump and kept trimmed to a mound like form. A dense white down covers both young stems and leaf undersides. The leaves are ovate-cordate, to 1 foot across, white tomentose beneath with lateral veins conspicuous on the undersides. Tight clusters of trumpet-shaped bright pink flowers about 2 in (5 cm) across on pedicels to 6 inches long appear among the foliage in spring and summer. In a tropical climate cultivation is simple, the plants making very vigorous growth in a sunny position in moist soil. In cooler climates they can be grown in a sunny conservatory, but due to their rampant growth will need frequent cutting back. Propagate from seed or cuttings. Used medicinally in India. The roots and seeds of Elephant Creeper have been used as a support of the nervous system, a geriatric tonic and mild aphrodisiac. The whole plant is reported to have purifying properties. It is also taken to help maintain healthy joints.

Pic:near Thiruvilwamala, Palakkad Dt, Kerala.INDIA

WALLICH GERANIUM (Geranium wallichianum)

Flowers of Himalaya

WALLICH GERANIUM

Botanical name: Geranium wallichianum

Family: Geraniaceae (Geranium family)

Wallich Geranium is a perennial herb with paired rose-pink to red-purple flowers with pale centers. Flowers are 2.5-4 cm across. Sepals are bristly haired on veins. Plants usually have large stipules which are an identifying feature. Leaves are mostly 4-8 cm across, 3-5 lobed, the lobes are broad-rhombic, further lobed and toothed. The plant has a much branched stem, growing up to 1-4 ft tall. 
Flowering: June-September

Pic: mana village uttarakhand 09

Rugged Yellow Balsam (Impatiens scabrida)

flowers of Himalaya

Rugged Yellow Balsam

Scabby Balsam 

Botanical name: Impatiens scabrida

Family: Balsaminaceae (Balsam family)

Synonyms: Impatiens cristata

Rugged Yellow Balsam is a rather robust often much branched plant with large lemon yellow flowers spotted with brown within. Flowers are borne several in each axil, 3-4 cm long, with a broad funnel-shaped lower sepal suddenly contracted to a slender spur 1.5-3 cm long. Upper petal is rounded and spurred. Lateral sepals pubescent, ovate-suborbiculate, 5-7 x 4-7 mm, sometimes mottled brown-black. The short-stalked leaves are 5-15 cm, elliptic to lacelike, long pointed, with acute teeth. Stem is finely hairy, 2-4 ft tall. Rugged Yellow Balsam is found in shrubberies, forests and damp places, at altitudes of 1200-3600 m, from Kashmir to Bhutan. 
Flowering: May-September.

Pic:Uttarakhand 09

HIMALAYAN FLEECEFLOWER

Flowers of Himalaya

HIMALAYAN FLEECEFLOWER 

Common name: Himalayan Fleeceflower, Himalayan knotweed Botanical name: Polygonum affine Family: Polygonaceae (Knotweed family) Synonyms: Persicaria affinis, Polygonum brunonis, Polygonum donianum

Himalayan Fleeceflower is low creeping densely tufted mat-forming alpine herb, with narrow elliptic leaves which are glaucous beneath, and with cylindrical spikes of many pale or deep pink flowers, borne at the top of short erect stems. Flower-spikes are 5-7.5 cm long, with densely crowded flowers. Stamens slightly protrude out of the flowers. Leaves are mostly at the base, 3-8 cm long, with the base narrowed to a short stalk. Leaf margins are entire or very finely toothed. The mid-vein is prominent. Flowering stems are several, 5-25 cm tall, with very few smaller leaves. Himalayan Fleeceflower is found in the Himalayas, from Afghanistan to E. Nepal, at altitudes of 3000-4800 m. Flowering: June-September.

BUSH SORREL (Hibiscus surattensis)

Bush Sorrel

Common name: Bush Sorrel, Wild Sour, Bush Althea

Botanical name: Hibiscus surattensis   

Family: Malvaceae (Mallow family)

Synonyms: Furcaria surattensis

Bush Sorrel is a weak-stemmed, prostrate or climbing plant covered with soft hairs and scattered prickles. The leaves are rounded, up to 10 X 10 cm, and deeply and palmately 3- to 5-lobed, the lobes being toothed. The flowers are yellow, with a dark center, and occur singly in leaf axils. Petals are obovate, up to 6 cm long and 4 cm wide. This flower can be easily identified by its unique false sepals, which are 8-10 in number. The false sepals (actually bracts) are forked into a spoon-shaped outer part, and a narrow linear inner part. But for this feature, the plant can be confused with Deccan Hemp. The capsules are hairy and ovoid. The seeds are downy. Bush Sorrel is found throughout the tropical world. Its leaves are commonly used as pot-herb in many parts of Africa and Asia. Flowering: September-March.

Pink Powder Puff

Pink Powder Puff

Botanical name: Calliandra brevipes

Family: Mimosaceae (Touch-me-not family)

Synonyms: Anneslia brevipes, Calliandra selloi

This Pink Powder Puff is very different from the pink form of the common Powder Puff. It is a small shrub with double- compound leaves. The number of leaflets is much larger than that in common Powder Puff. Leaflets are very closely spaced and are often 'closed up'. This one never grows taller than 1.8m. Flowers are a beautiful powder-puff of erect stamens which are white towards the base and pink above. Pink Powder Puff is native to South America.

Moon vine

Moon flower vine or Moon vine 

Botanical name: Ipomoea alba    

Family: Convolvulaceae (morning glory family) 

Moon vine is a vigorous twining vine that is very fast growing in really hot weather. Mon vine is a close relative of the morning glory, and has similar heart shaped leaves that are a rich green and 4-8 inches long. However, unlike its cousine, its buds open in late afternoon and shrivel up by morning. For this reason, it is sometimes also called evening glory. Although the individual flowers of moon vine have a short life, they are of large size, and are produced in large numbers. These are held on a stem that bears several buds simultaneously, not all of which bloom the same night. The long 4 in buds are also very attractive especially in the hours just before the flower opens. And what a fabulous flower the moon vine produces - they are fluted funnels sculpted in purest alabaster white. About the diameter of a saucer measuring 5-6 inches across. As if the moonflower was not already enchanting enough, it also has a delightful fragrance to complement its beauty and perfume warm summer nights. Native to American tropics, moon vine can be seen growing wild in India.

Pic:Kumbalangi EranakulamDt.Kerala.INDIA

Love-in-a-mist - Stinking passionflower

Love-in-a-mist  -  Stinking passionflower 

പൂച്ചപഴം

Botanical name: Passiflora foetida    

Family: Passifloraceae 

(passion flower family)

Love-in-a-mist is a creeping vine which has an edible fruit and leaves that have a mildly rank aroma. It is native to northern South America and the West Indies. The stems are thin, wiry and woody, covered with sticky yellow hairs. The leaves are three- to five-lobed and viscid-hairy. They give off an unpleasant odor when crushed. The flowers are white to pale cream colored, about 5-6 cm diameter. The fruit is globose, 2-3 cm diameter, yellowish-orange to red when ripe, and has numerous black seeds embedded in the pulp; the fruit are eaten and the seeds dispersed by birds. The bracts of this plant serve as insect traps, but it is as yet unknown whether the plant digests and gains nourishment from the trapped insects or if it merely uses the bracts as a defensive mechanism to protect its flowers and fruit. This is still an issue of debate and research among carnivorous plant enthusiasts. 

native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and much of South America.

 This species can be helpful in treating digestive problems, including dyspepsia and diarrhea; or used as an astringent and expectorant for nervous conditions and spasms.

Pic:Kumbalangi EranakulamDt.Kerala.INDIA