Dutusatutu
Scrophulariaceae
Centranthera indica
Dutusatutu S
Undir kani is an erect herb, growing up to 10-50 cm high. The stem is stout, bristled and erect. Linear, stalk-less leaves, 1-3 cm long, flowers bloom in the leaf axils in September. The rose colored flowers are funnel shaped, 2 cm long.
Aratta
Zingiberaceae
Alpinia calcarata
Aratta S
Snap Ginger E
Native to India
Wal eguru
Zingiberaceae
Wal iguru S
Bitter ginger Shampoo ginger E
Shampoo ginger is a tall upright ginger growing up to 9' tall with long, narrow leaves.
It has cone shaped bracts.
Wel Tibbatu
Solanaceae
Solanum trilobatum
Wal tibbatu S
Purple Fruited Pea Eggplant, E
Tuduvalai T
Purple Fruited Pea Eggplant is a thorny creeper with bluish violet flower, more commonly available inSouthern India has been used traditionally in Siddha system of medicines to treat various diseases.
Wal tibbatu S
Purple Fruited Pea Eggplant, E
Tuduvalai T
Purple Fruited Pea Eggplant is a thorny creeper with bluish violet flower, more commonly available in
Divi kaduru
APOCYNACEAE
Pagiantha dichotoma
Divi-kaduru (S);
Nanthia vattai (T
Moderate size tree found in wet zone. Roots are poisonous Fruit glabrous, orange when ripe. Seeds with a coat of crimson pulp
Pagiantha dichotoma
Divi-kaduru (S);
Nanthia vattai (T
Moderate size tree found in wet zone. Roots are poisonous Fruit glabrous, orange when ripe. Seeds with a coat of crimson pulp
Nawa
Sterculiaceae
Hairy Sterculia E
Nawa S
Kottaithanuku T
Hairy Sterculia is a medium sized, native to India Flowers are unisexual, Many-seeded, red when ripe. Seeds oblong, smooth, black. Flowering: December-March.
Sadikka
Myristica fragrans
Nutmeg E
Sadikka S
The nutmeg tree is a large evergreen native to the Moluccas (the Spice Islands ) and is now cultivated in the West Fruit used as a spice is also the seed,
Kirihanda
Amaranthaceae
Silver Cockscomb E
Kirihanda S
Silver cockscombs are erect, branching plants with oval or lance-shaped, strongly veined leaves 2-6 in long and hundreds of tiny flowers packed in dense spikes of silver-white
Baludan
Myrsinaceae
Shoebutton Ardisia E
Balu dan S
Manipudbam T
Shoebutton Ardisia is a large, evergreen shurb, growing up to 1.5-4 m tall .Flowers are 1.5-2 cm across, pink or pinkish- white, pink flowers. Flowering: March-August.
Malita
Lythraceae
Fire Flame Bush, Red Bell
Malitta S
Velakkai T
Fire Flame Bush is a spreading, leafy shrub, small in size but very conspicuous on dry, rocky hillsides from December to May, Medicinal uses: This is a drug largely used in native medicine. This enters into the composition of many preparations, decoctions, churnas and ghritas for various diseases, but chiefly dysentery and diarrhoea by reason of its being highly astringent.
Kadupahara
Asteraceae
Emilia sonchifolia
Kadupahara S
Muyalccevi T
Purple Sow Thistle is an annual herb with a branched taproot. Stems are weak, erect or often branched
Balunakuta
Verbenaceae
Stachytarpheta indica
Balunakuta S
Seemai nayuruvi T
Indian Snakeweed is a terrestrial, annual or perennial, erect subshrub, up to 2 m tall. Taproot white or brown. Stem quadrangular, solid, glabrous or hairy. Stipules absent. Leaves simple,. Stalkless blue flowers appear in a slender terminal spike, petals 5, blue, with white throat.
Maha bovitiya
Melastomataceae
Melastoma malabathricum
Malabar Melastome E
Maha bovitiya S
Malabar Melastome is an evergreen shrub, up to 2 m tall. Fruit a berry-like capsule with numerous seeds coated with red, sweet astringent pulp.
Beht Anoda
Malvaceae
Abutilon heterotrichum
Hairy Indian Mallow, E
Vadattuti T
Behet Anoda S
Hairy Indian Mallow is an perennial herb or undershrub, 0.5-2 m tall. Stem, leaf-stalks and flower-stalks are sticky velvety and hairy. Leaves are carried on 3-15 cm long stalks.. Flowers are 3-3.5 cm across, orange-yellow. Petals are 1.5 cm long and 1 cm broad, densely hairy,
Sudu hadun
Santalaceae
Santalum album
Sandalwood, Indian sandalwood, E
Suduhadun S
Chandanam T
Sandalwood is an evergreen tree, growing up to 4-9 m tall. The trees have a long life, and may live up to one hundred years of age. The plant parasitises the roots of other tree species, but without major detriment to its hosts. medicine, sandalwood oil is considered an excellent sedating agent.
Kamaranka
Oxalidaceae
Carambola, Star fruit E
Kamaranka S
Tamarattai T
A slow growing small tropical tree, no more than 25 feet tall, originally from Southeast Asia (Indonesia) The green leaflets are sensitive to light and fold inward at night. It has small, pink colored flowers with a dark-red heart. year-round. When sliced in cross section a perfect star is formed. Carambola is eaten fresh or in fruit salads.
Attikka
Moraceae
Ficus racemosa
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Cluster fig E
Attikka S
Atti T
Goolar is an attractive fig tree witha crooked trumk and a spreading crown. Furry figs in short clusters, which grow directly out of the trunk of the tree. Those looking for the flower of goolar should know that the fig is actually a compartment carrying hundreds of flowers.
Kaha Adanahiriya
Fabaceae
Crotalaria retusa
Rattleweed, shak-shak, Rattlebox, wedge-leaf E
Kaha Adanahiriya S
Kilukiluppai T
Rattle weed is an annual herb with erect stem, growing up to 1.3 m tall. Stems are ridged, velvety with short appressed hairs. Leaves are simple, argins hairy. Pods are greenish to start with, dark brown to black at maturity, 3-4 cm long, hairless.
Sudupuruk
Acanthaceae
Justicia betonica
Squirrel's tail, White shrimp plant E
Sudu puruk S
Velimungil T
Squirrel tail is a graceful and elegant plant,. A beautiful unusual shrimp plant, very rare. Very floriferous plant producing in abundance erect white bracts with a green netting pattern. It’s flowers start out white then turn to pink with age, giving a beautiful contrast. A free branching upright shrub, producing a very attractive tropical inflorescence
Suriyakantha
Asteraceae
Silverleaf Sunflower E
Suriya kantha S
Silver leaf Sunflower is a coarse annual herb 1.5-2 m tall. Stems are densely white-velvety. Leaves are ovate to ovate-lance shaped. Silverleaf Sunflower is native to North America, cultivated as a garden plant in India.
Nil katarolu
Fabaceae
Clitoria ternatea
Butterfly Pea E
Nil Katarolu S
Kannikkodi T
This wonderful twining plant generously bears quite large flowers which are a beautiful shade of vivid cobalt blue with a white throat. The flowers are presented upside down - the "keel" petal appears on the top rather than the underside. A native of subtropical America and Asia, the butterfly pea is beautiful.
Niyagala
Liliaceae
Gloriosa superba
Glory Lily, Gloriosa lily E
Niyagala S
Kallappai kilangu T
Found in all part of the island Glory Lily is a most unusual and splendid flower, Tubers are poisonous.
Minimal
Apocynaceae
Catharanthus roseus
Periwinkle, Vinca E
Minimal S
. Closely planted it can have an impressive effect with its various colours. This is one flower which can be found all part of the island. Lots of cultivars have been developed with various colors, from red to white.
Katu karadu
Acanthaceae
Barleria lupulina
Hophead, Philippine Violet E
Ranwan katukaradu S
Hophead is a popular medicinal plant distributed in many part of the island. Shrubbery plant with single dark green leaves, red-brown branches, and flowers that bloom in upright spikes. It is an erect shrub with smooth, hairless stems and leaves. wide. Flowers occur in a terminal spike with overlapping bracts which are broadly ovate corolla tube
Nika
Verbenaceae
Vitex negundo
Chaste Tree E
Nika S
Nocchi T
Chaste tree can be described as a cross between a shrub and a tree with a single woody stem (trunk). It can grow up to five meters tall., Violet flowers on new growth from June to September. Flowers are the smallest of the commonly grown Vitex species. The leaves are used as a mosquito repellent
Yakkapu
Sterculiaceae
Yakkapu S
Devil's Cotton, Cotton Abroma E
Devil's Cotton is a large spreading shrub, or a small tree, with fibrous bark and irritant hairs. It grows up to 2.5 m tall with hairy branches. Flowering: June-September.
Napiritta
Malvaceae
Furcaria surattensis
Kashlikirai, kattuppuliccai T
Napiritta S
Bush Sorrel, E
Bush Sorrel is a weak-stemmed, prostrate or climbing plant covered with soft hairs and scattered prickles... 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.
Wara
Asclepiadaceae
Calotropis gigantean
Crown Flower E
Wara S
Erukku T
This large shrub, which looks like a small tree, sports clusters of waxy flowers that are either white or lavender in are used. The fruit is a follicle and when dry, seed dispersal is by wind. The seeds with a parachute of hairs, is a delight for small children, who like to blow it and watch it float in the air. This plant plays host to a variety of insects and butterflies.
Ranawara
Caesalpiniaceae
Cassia auriculata
Matara tea T
Avaram T
Ranawara S
Tanner's Cassia is a branched shrub, growing up to 1-1.5 m high. It has a smooth reddish brown bark. Flowers yellow
Tolabo
Amaryllidaceae
Crinum asiaticum
Grand crinum lily E
Tolabo S
Visamumgil T
This crinum lily makes an imposing presence in the garden. Dark green strap-like leaves may be more than 3 feet long by 4 inches wide. Flowers are shaped like tubes that flare open into a crown of narrow petals. The flowers are white and are arranged in clusters atop thick, succulent stems
Madatiya
Mimosaceae
Adenanthera pavonina
Red Sandalwood, E
Madatiya S
Red Sandalwood is a timber tree. This plant is found in the wet zone in srilanka . flower grows in dense drooping rat-tail flower heads, almost like cat-tail flower-heads. Fruits are curved, hanging, green pods that turn brown, coil up and split open as they ripen to reveal small bright red seeds. and rosaries... Children love the hard red seeds and few can resist collecting the brightly coloured seeds usually littered under the tree.
Na
Clusiaceae
Mesua ferrea
Ceylon ironwood E
Na S
Tadinangu T
A handsome evergreen tree often planted as an ornamental for its fragrant white flowers that yield a perfume; source of very heavy hardwood medium-sized evergreen tree up to 13 m tall, It is the National tree of Sri Lanka.
Kalu Attana
Solanaceae
Datura metel
Horn of Plenty, Devil's Trumpet E
Kalu attana S
A unique cousin of the common Datura. The flowers are held upright. They are semi-double and a beautiful shade of purple-blue. Plants do best in full sunlight. They grow to a height of around one meter.
Kubuk
Combretaceae
Terminalia arjuna
Arjun E
Kubuk S
Marutu T
Arjuna is a large, evergreen tree, with a spreading crown and drooping branches. Grows up to 25 m height, and the bark is grey and smooth.. Flowers small, white, and occur on long hanging racemes. Fruit is 2.3-3.5 cm long, fibrous woody Flowering time of the tree is April-July,
Komarika
Asphodelaceae
Aloe vera
Burn plant E
Komarika S
Kathalai T
Aloe, a popular houseplant, has a long history as a multipurpose folk remedy. Commonly known as Aloe vera, the plant can be snapped off and placed on cuts and burns for immediate relief. Aloe vera is a clump forming succulent whose fleshy gray-green leaves are arranged in a vase shaped rosette atop a very short stem. The leaves are up to 18 in long and 2 in wide
Koboneela
Caesalpiniaceae
Bauhinia purpurea
Butterfly tree E
Koboneela S
Nilattiruvatti T
These flowers appear on the trees from September through November and are a beautiful sight to see, creating a vivid splash of color in the landscape. Curiously, the flower color varies quite a lot. There are some trees which have white flowers with only some streaks of purple in them
Aralu
Combretaceae
Terminalia chebula
Myrobalan E
Aralu S
Chebulic Myrobalan can reach heights of 20 meters. This tree yields smallish, ribbed and nut-like fruits which are picked up when still green and then pickled, boiled with a little added sugar in their own syrup or used in preserves or concotions. The seed of the fruit, which has an elliptical shape, is an abrasive pit enveloped by a fleshy and firm pulp.
Ehala
Caesalpiniaceae
Cassia fistula
Ehala S
Golden shower tree, Indian Laburnum E
Konrai T
A tropical ornamental tree with a trunk consisting of hard reddish wood, growing up to 40 feet tall. The wood is hard and heavy; it is used for cabinet, These flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies. The fruits are dark-brown cylindrical pods, also 2' long,
Nelli
Euphorbiaceae
Phyllanthus embelica
Beheth nelli S
Nelli T
Amla, Indian gooseberry E
A medium to large sized tree up to about 10 m in height It grows in moist part of srilanka below 1200 m altitude. The taste of Amla is sour, bitter and astringent, and is quite fibrous.
Asoka
Caesalpiniaceae
Saraca indica
Asoka S
Sita Ashok, Sorrowless tree E
Asogam T
This is an erect tree, small and evergreen, with a smooth, grey-brown bark. The crown is compact and shapely. Flowers are usually to be seen throughout the year, but it is in January and February that the profusion of orange and scarlet clusters turns the tree into an object of startling beauty.
Delum
Punicaceae
Delun : S
Pomegranate : E
Madalankai : T
The pomegranate is a shrub, usually with multiple stems, Pomegranate is cultivated in home garden in many part of Sri lanka, Mostly found in dry zone A tasty drink is made by fruit
Introduction
India is a country known for ancient scripts,the number system,invetion of zero..and vedas.l Medicines in india are used by about 60 per cent of the world's population. These are not only used for primary health care not just in rural areas in developing countries, but also in developed countries as well where modern medicines are predominantly used. While the traditional medicines are derived from medicinal plants, minerals, and organic matter, the herbal drugs are prepared from medicinal plants only.
Use of plants as a source of medicine has been an ancient practice and is an important component of the health care system in India. In the Indian systems of medicine, most practitioners formulate and dispense their own recipes, hence this requires proper documentation and research. In west also the use of herbal medicines is growing with approximately 40 per cent of population reporting use of herb to treat medical diseases within the past year. General Public, academic and government interest in traditional medicines is growing rapidly due to the increase side effects of the adverse drug reactions and cost factor of the modern system of medicine.
There are about 45,000 medicinal plant species in India, with concentrated spots in the region of Eastern Himalayas, Western Ghats and Andaman & Nicobar Island. The officially documented plants with medicinal potential are 3000 but traditional practitioners use more than 6000. India is the largest producer of medicinal herbs and is called the botanical garden of the world. There are currently about 250 000 registered medical practitioners of the Ayurvedic system ,as compared to about 700,000 of the modern medicine system. In rural India, 70 per cent of the population depends on the traditional type of medicine, the Ayurveda.
In India, many forms of alternative medicines are available for those who do not want conventional medicine or who cannot be helped by conventional medicine. Ayurveda and Kabiraji (herbal medicine) are two important forms of alternative medicine that is widely available in India.
Ayurvedic form of medicine is believed to be existent in India for thousands of years. It employs various techniques and things to provide healing or relief to the ailing patients. One of the things that ayurveda uses is medications of plant origin.
With the scripts in the Atharva Veda, we have evidence of a traditional use of medicinal plants that is more than 3000 years old.
It is estimated that about 80,000 species of plants are utilized in some form or other by the different systems of Indian medicine. The knowledge about plants and plant products is detailed ,sophisticated, and has evolved into a separate shastra itself, called Dravya Guna Shastra. Plants have been studied on the basis of clearly defined biological parameters like rasa (taste), vipaka (metabolic property), guna (quality), prabhava (biological effect) and virya (potency). The codified traditions have about 25,000 plant drug formulations that have emerged from such studies. In addition to this, over 50,000 formulations are believed to be existing in the folk and tribal traditions. All these point to the deep passion for and exhaustive knowledge about medicinal plants that have existed in this land from time immemorial.
Many herbs and spices are used in Indian cooking, such as onion, garlic, ginger, turmeric, clove, cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, fenugreek, fennel, ajowan (ajwain), anise, amchur, bay leaf, hing (asafoetida) etc. Ayurvedic medicine uses all of these either in diet or as an medicine. Some of these medicinal plants have been featured on Indian postage stamps.
The first set of stamps showing medicinal plants came out in 1997. The set had four stamps showing four different medicinal plants - Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Haridra (Curcuma longa), Sarpagandha (Rauvolfia serpentina), and Ghritkumari (Aloe barbadensis).
Continuing with the series that began on 28th October 1997, the Department of Posts now brings out another set of four stamps on the medicinal plants of India. The stamps featuring in this set are on Guggulu (Commiphora wightii), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Aswagandha (Withania somnifera) and Amla (Emblica officinallis).
Guggulu (Commiphora wightii) is an armed shrub or small tree found in the arid and semi-arid zones of India, particularly Rajasthan. The oleo gum resin from its stem constitutes an important therapeutic agent used in the treatment of various categories of ailments like neurological conditions, leprosy, skin diseases, heart ailments, cerebro vascular diseases and hypertension.
Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) is a herb that spreads on ground, having fleshy stems and leaves. It is found in moist or wet places in all parts of India. Brahmi is useful for treating the diseases of the brain and to improve memory power. Brahmi-formulations are prescribed in rheumatism, mental disorders, constipation and bronchitis. It is also a diuretic
Amla (Emblica officinallis) is a medium sized deciduous tree found throughout India. It yields a globose pale yellow fruit known for its varied medicinal properties. It is regarded as an digestive, carminative, laxative, anti-pyretic and tonic. It is prescribed in colics, jaundice, hemorrhages, flatulence and many other disorders.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a small or medium sized shrub found in the drier parts of India. It is a nervine tonic, anabolic and aphrodisiac. It is used also to treat general weakness and rheumatism.
some of the medicinal plants that we find in india along with their scientific names....
Air Plant (Kalanchoe pinnata/ Bryophyllum pinnatum)
Aloe Vera (Aloe Vera)
Amaltas (Cassia fistula)
Apple Mangrove (Sonneratia caseolaris)
Arjun Tree (Terminalia arjuna)
Arni (Clerodendrum phlomidis)
Arrow Leaf Pondweed (Monochoria hastata)
Arrowleaf Dock (Rumex hastatus)
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Asian Spider Flower (Cleome viscosa/icosandra)
Banchalita (Leea asiatica)
Bandicoot Berry (Leea indica)
Bara Gokhru (Pedalium murex)
Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra)
Barringtonia (Barringtonia acutangula)
Bell Weed (Dipteracanthus prostratus)
Bellyache Bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia)
Bengal Sage (Meriandra benghalensis)
Bhringaraj (Eclipta prostrata/erecta/alba)
Bichchhoo (Meriandra benghalensis)
Bilimbi (Averrhoa bilimbi)
Bird's Head Birthwort (Aristolochia ornithocephala)
Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum)
Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri)
Bush Grape (Cayratia trifolia)
Cabbage Palm (Sabal palmetto)
Calabash Tree (Crescentia cujete)
Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis)
Arjun Tree
Some of its medicinal uses are:
Every part of the tree has useful medicinal properties. Arjun holds a reputed position in both Ayurvedic and Yunani Systems of medicine. According to Ayurveda it is alexiteric, styptic, tonic, anthelmintic, and useful in fractures, uclers, heart diseases, biliousness, urinary discharges, asthma, tumours, leucoderma, anaemia, excessive prespiration etc. According to Yunani system of medicine, it is used both externally and internally in gleet and urinary discharges.
Amaltas
The common name of this medicinal plant is Amaltas, Golden shower tree, Indian Laburnum .Its botanical name is Cassia fistula.It belongs to family called Caesalpiniaceae (Gulmohar family)This native of India,, is one of the most beautiful of all tropical trees when it sheds its leaves and bursts into a mass of long, grape-bunches like yellow gold flowers. A tropical ornamental tree with a trunck consisting of hard reddish wood, growing up to 40 feet tall. The wood is hard and heavy; it is used for cabinet, inlay work, etc. It has showy racemes, up to 2" long, with bright, yellow, fragrant flowers. These flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies. The fruits are dark-brown cylindrical pods, also 2' long, which also hold the flattish, brown seeds (up to 100 in one pod) These seeds are in cells, each containing a single seed. A postal stamp was issued by the Indian Postal Department to commemorate this tree.
Its medicinal uses are: The sweet blackish pulp of the seedpod is used as a mild laxative
Asian Spider Flower
The common name of this medicinal plant is Asian spider flower, Yellow spider flower, Cleome, Tickweed, Bagra (Hindi).Its botanical name is Cleome viscosa/icosandra It belongs to family called Capparaceae (caper family) .It is usually tall annual herb, up to a meter in height, more or less hairy with glandular and eglandular hairs. Leaves 3-5-foliolate, petiolate; leaflets obovate, elliptic-oblong, very variable in size, often 2-4 cm long, 1.5-2.5 cm broad, middle one largest; petiole up to 5 cm long. Racemes elongated, up to 30 cm long, with corym¬bose flowers at the top and elongated mature fruits below, bracteate. Flowers 10-15 mm across, whitish or yellowish; pedicels 6-20 mm long; bracts foliaceous. Sepals oblong-lanceolate, 3-4 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, glandular-pubescent. Petals 8-15 mm long, 2-4 mm broad, oblong-obovate. Stamens 10-12 (rarely more, up to 20), not exceeding the petals; gynophore absent. Fruit 30-75 mm long, 3-5 mm broad, linear-oblong, erect, obliquely striated, tapering at both ends, glandular-pubescent, slender; style 2-5 mm long; seeds many, 1-1.4 mm in diam., glabrous with longitudinal striations and transverse ridges, dark brown.
Some of its medicinal uses are:
The leaves are diaphoretic, rubefacient and vesicant. They are used as an external application to wounds and ulcers. The juice of the leaves has been used to relieve earache. The seeds are anthelmintic, carminative, rubefacient and vesicant. The seed contains 0.1% viscosic acid and 0.04% viscosin.
Aloe Vera
The common name of this medicinal plant is Aloe vera, Medicinal aloe, Burn plant ,Hindi: Gheekumari. Its botanical name is Aloe vera. It belongs to family called Asphodelaceae (Aloe family).Its Synonyms are Aloe barbadensis, Aloe indica, Aloe vulgaris. Aloe , a popular houseplant, has a long history as a multipurpose folk remedy. Commonly known as Aloe vera, the plant can be snapped off and placed on cuts and burns for immediate relief. Aloe vera is a clump forming succulent whose fleshy gray-green leaves are arranged in a vase shaped rosette atop a very short stem.
The leaves are up to 18 in long and 2 in wide at the base, slightly grooved on top, and terminating in a sharp point. The leaves have small grayish teeth on the margins. The main rosette gets up to about 2 ft high, and the plant continually produces little offset rosettes. In winter and spring, medicinal aloe bears small tubular yellow flowers on branched stalks up to 3 ft tall. The real Aloe vera has yellow flowers, but many of the clones available have orange flowers. Although Aloe Vera is a member of the Lily family, it is very-cactus like in its characteristics.
Some of its medicinal uses are:
Aloe Vera contains over 20 minerals, all of which are essential to the human body. The human body requires 22 amino acids for good health -- eight of which are called "essential" because the body cannot fabricate them. Aloe Vera contains all of these eight essential amino acids, and 11 of the 14 "secondary" amino acids. Aloe Vera has Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E. In India, Aloe vera is believed to help in sustaining youth, due to its positive effects on the skin. Hence it is called ghee kunvar or ghee kumaari.
Eucalyptus
The common name of this medicinal plant is Eucalyptus, Safeda (Hindi) . Its botanical name is Eucalyptus spp. It belongs to family called Myrtaceae (Myrtle Family) .Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of trees (rarely shrubs), the members of which dominate the tree flora of Australia. All eucalypts are evergreen, although some species have deciduous bark. On warm days vapourised eucalyptus oil rises above the bush to create the characteristic distant blue haze of the Australian landscape. Eucalyptus oil is highly flammable (trees have been known to explode) and bush fires can travel easily through the oil-rich air of the tree crowns.
Eucalypts exhibit leaf dimorphism. When young, the leaves are opposite and often roundish and occassionally without petiole. When several years old, the leaves become quite slender and with long petiole. Eucalyptus flowers typically vary from white, cream, pink, yellow, or red depending upon the species. The flower petals and stamens are fused into a cap called an operculum — as the flower opens the cap is shed. The flowers appear as a fuzzy, cream-yellow ball of stamens. After flowering, hard, woody seed pods develop and are often key to identifying the plant species. Typically, these seed heads remain on the tree until released by fire or the plant's death.
Some of its medicinal uses are:
Eucalyptus oil has medicinal properties - the well known Vicks vapo-rub is made out of eucalyptus oil. Traditionally, eucalyptus oil is known to be a good medicine for relieving nasal congestion in cold.
