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Andrographis paniculata
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Family:
ACANTHACEAE
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Citation: Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees in Wall., Pl. Asiat. Rar. 3: 116. 1832; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 501. 1884; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1048(734). 1924; Manilal & Sivar., Fl. Calicut 214. 1982; Mohanan, Fl. Quilon Dist. 299. 1984; Antony, Syst. Stud. Fl. Kottayam Dist. 298. 1989; Ramach. & V.J. Nair, Fl. Cannanore Dist. 331. 1988; Manilal, Fl. Silent Valley 202. 1988; Babu, Fl. Malappuram Dist. 568. 1990; M. Mohanan & Henry, Fl. Thiruvanthapuram 342. 1994; Subram., Fl. Thenmala Div. 267. 1995; Sasidh., Fl. Shenduruny WLS 232. 1997; Sasidh., Fl. Periyar Tiger Reserve 292. 1998; Mohanan & Sivad., Fl. Agasthyamala 503. 2002; Sunil & Sivadasan, Fl. Alappuzha Dist. 532. 2009; Ratheesh Narayanan, Fl. Stud. Wayanad Dist. 606. 2009.
Justicia paniculata Burm. f., Fl. Ind. 9. 1768.
Andrographis subspathulata Clarke in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 502. 1884.
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Malayalam Name(s):
Kaakanjiram, Kiriyathu, Nilavepu, Nilamkanjiram
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Tamil name(s):
Kalmegh
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English name(s):
Andrographis, Green chiretta, Kalmegh
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Description:
Slender herbs; branches glabrous. Leaves simple, opposite, 9 x 1.5 cm, elliptic, acuminate at apex, base acute, decussate, glabrous. Panicle terminal and upper axillary, glandular-hairy; flowers many, distant. Calyx lobes 3 mm long, linear, hairy, connate at base. Corolla 14 mm long, pink or white with purple dots, tube ventricose, hairy, upper lip entire, midlobe of lower lip broader than laterals, acute, glandular-hairy. Ovary puberulus, style hairy. Capsule 20-30 x 3 mm, oblong, acute, hairy; retinacula spoon shaped; seeds 8, glabrous.
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Habit:
Herb
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Flowering & Fruiting:
March-December
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District(s):
All Districts
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Medicinal:
Yes
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Habitat:
Scrub jungles, also in the plains
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Distribution:
Peninsular India and Sri Lanka
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Aquatic:
No
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
No
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Flower colour(s):
Violet
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Weed:
No
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Monocot/Dicot:
Dicotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
No
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Garden:
No
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Edible:
No
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Vegetable:
No
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Endemic to:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
300-500
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Localities:
KFRI garden, Rosemala, Kattalappara, Thannikkudy, Campshed area, Panur, Thenmalai, Ariankavu, Puliyoor, Kappukadu
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