Helicteres isora L.

ഇടംപിരി-വലംപിരി

Family : STERCULIACEAE

Synonym :

Ixora versicolor Hassk.

Common Names : Edampiri-Valampiri, Eeswaramoori, Kaivum, Kayinaru, Kayivilanaru, Kayivoolam, Kayyunanna, Valampiri, East Indian screw tree

Flowering Period : September-March

Distribution : Indo-Malesia, China and Australia

Habitat : Deciduous forests, also in plantations and plains

Uses : The extract of the seeds cures dysentery and stomach pain. The root and stem bark are expectorant, demulcent, astringent, galactofuge, and a remedy for scabies. The stem bark is also used for treating diarrhoea and dysentery. The bark is the source of a strong fibre. It is used as cordage for making cots, tying cattle and ploughs. The bark fibre is good for making ropes and clothing

Key Characters :

Large shrubs or small trees; bark pale greyish, finely wrinkled; young shoots stellate- tomentose. Leaves simple, alternate, 5-12 x 3-8 cm, obovate to suborbicular, apex acute or acuminate, base cordate, margin irregularly crenate- serrate; 3-5-nerved at the base, scabrous above and stellately tomentose below; petioles to 1.2 cm long. Flowers axillary, solitary or in few-flowered cymes; bracts 2-3 mm long, linear, 2 brown glands present in the axil of bracts; pedicel to 6 mm long. Calyx slightly yellow, persistent, tubular, splitting in to 5 irregular lobes; tube 1.5-2 cm long , densely stellate hairy without. Petals 5, unequal, 2-2.5 cm long, obovate, clawed, crimson, fading to pale blue. Staminal column 3-3.5 cm long, cylindric; stamens 10 ; staminodes 5. Ovary 2-2.5 mm long, placed at tip of gynophore, 5-lobed, 5-celled; ovules many; style 5; stigma subulate. Follicles 5, 4-6 cm long, spirally twisted, stellate-tomentose, beaked; seeds 2-3 mm long, angular, black, wrinkled.