Category: S

Botanical name: Mentha spicata

Spearmint oil is crafted from extracts of a perennial herb indigenous to the Mediterranean region. Highly esteemed for its medicinal properties, it is also believed to be a remedy for sexually transmitted diseases. This colorless, clear liquid, featuring a characteristic spearmint aroma, is soluble in water but insoluble in alcohol and oils. The oil is obtained through the steam distillation method from the leaves of the plant.

Medicinal Uses:

• Help alleviate symptoms of nausea
• Indigestion
• Gas
• Headache
• Toothache
• Cramps
• Sore throat

Strychnos wallichiana Steudel ex DC. (LOGANIACEAE)

Common names
Kannada: Balli kasaraka.
Malayalam: Valli-kanjira.
Tamil: Valli-kanjiram.

Description: Large woody climbers; tendrils bi-fid. Leaves ovate or elliptic, up to15 x 5 cm, rounded at base, acute or acuminate at apex, shining. Basal nerves 3; petioles up to 7 mm long. Flowers in terminal cymes, from old wood. Calyx lobes 5. Corolla lobes 5. There are five stamens with short filaments. The ovary is two-locular, with a short style and a capitate stigma. The fruit is a smooth, globose berry, approximately 10 cm across, turning yellow when ripe. It contains 3-4 flat seeds.

Flowering & Fruiting : January – May.

Distribution: India: Common in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of Western Ghats. Sri Lanka.

Uses: Decoction of roots used in rheumatism, ulcers, elephantiasis, fever and epilepsy.

Syzygium zeylanicum (L.) DC. (MYRTACEAE)

Common names
Kannada: Kunnerael, Bilinerale.
Malayalam: Pula.

Description: These are trees with pale brown bark. The leaves are arranged oppositely, with an ovate or elliptic-lanceolate shape, measuring 7-9 x 2.5-3.2 cm. They are acuminate, rounded, or narrowed at the base, and acuminate at the apex, featuring a coriaceous texture. The upper surface turns black when dry, and the petiole can reach up to 5 mm in length. Cymes panicled, axillary and terminal. Flowers small, in axillary and terminal many-flowered paniculate cymes, in clusters of 3-5 at the ends of the cyme branches, white. Calyx tube funnel shaped; lobes 4-5, distinct. Petals 4-5, orbicular, usually calyptrate. Staminal disc absent. Stamens numerous. Ovary inferior, 2-locular. Fruit a berry, globose, ca 8 mm across, pure white. Seed solitary.

Flowering and Fruiting: February – May.

Distribution: India: Western Peninsula, Orissa, Silhit. Frequent in forest undergrowth of upper Western Ghats, 600 – 900 m. Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Borneo and Malaya.

Uses: Fruits edible. Timber used for construction and agricultural implements. The bark is a source of a black dye. Plant stimulant, used in rheumatism, syphilis, uterine problems; decoction of leaf and root used as vermifuge.

Syzygium heyneanum (Duthie) Wallich ex Gamble (MYRTACEAE)

Common name:
Kannada: Simpi nerale.

Description: These are shrubs or small trees, reaching heights of up to 5 meters. The leaves are arranged opposite, with a linear-elliptic or narrowly oblong shape, measuring up to 12 x 3.5 cm. They taper at the base, have a subobtuse apex, and exhibit pellucid-punctate characteristics. The main nerves are highly numerous, and the petioles are short. Flowers small, in axillary or extra-axillary paniculate cymes, white. Calyx funnel-shaped, obscurely lobed. Petals calyptrate. Stamens numerous. Fruit a berry, oblong, up to 1.5 cm long, crowned with the cup-like calyx-limb.

Flowering : March – May.
Fruiting : September – November.

Distribution: India: Along banks of streams and rivers. Central and Peninsular India.

Syzygium laetum (Buch. – Ham.) Gandhi  (MYRTACEAE)

Description: Trees up to 10 meters tall; bark smooth, white. Leaves opposite, ovate or elliptic, up to 11.5 x 5 cm, narrowed at base, acuminate at apex, glabrous. Flowers in few-flowered, ca 5 cm across cymes. Calyx tube narrow narrowly conical, lobes 4. Petals 4, orbicular, ca 1.5 cm across, white. Staminal disc thick. The stamens are numerous, vibrant crimson, extending well beyond the petals. The berries are ovoid, approximately 2.5 cm in diameter, dark brown, and crowned by persistent calyx lobes.

Flowering & Fruiting : December – May.

Distribution: India: In evergreen forests of Western Ghats. Maharashtra and Karnataka. Endemic.

Uses: The wood is a good structural timber.

Syzygium cumini  (L.) Skeels  (MYRTACEAE)

Common name
Kannada – Nerale.

Description: Trees, up to 16 m tall; bark smooth, light grey. Leaves opposite, variable in shape, ovate, to elliptic-lanceolate or elliptic-oblong, up to 16 x 5 cm, narrowed at base, acute, acuminate or rarely obtuse at apex, chartaceous; lateral nerves distinct beneath; petiole up to 3 cm long. Flowers small, in ramiflorous or axillary, panicled cymes, dirty white. Calyx tube obscurely lobed. Corolla calyptrate; lobes 4. Numerous stamens are present, and the ovary is inferior with two locules. The fruit is a berry, either globose or oblong, reaching up to 4 cm in diameter, and turns purple when ripe, exhibiting juiciness. It contains a solitary seed.

Flowering & Fruiting: February – September.

Distribution: Almost throughout India. Common in deciduous and semi-evergreen forests of most districts. Sri Lanka, Malesia and Australia.

Uses:

• The fruits are edible and utilized in the production of wine, vinegar, jellies, and jam. The timber is employed for both building and agricultural purposes. It is also used for boat building, oars, tool handles, cartwheels, well-curbs, sleepers, furniture, plywood, and as props for shafts and galleries in mines. The wood is a moderately good fuel. Bark is used in dyeing and tanning.
• Leaves form palatable fodder for cattle and also used as green manure. Seeds are used as feed for livestock. Planted as an avenue tree. Bark astringent, used in gargles; bark and leaf used in diarrhoea; decoction of bark and powdered seed used in diabetes; root, bark, leaf, fruit and seed are used in haemorrhage, burning sensation and polyuria; fruit stomachic, carminative and diuretic.

Syzygium caryophyllatum (L.) Alston (MYRTACEAE)

Common names
Kannada – Kuntala, Kuntu nerale.

Description: Small trees; bark smooth, grey. Leaves opposite, elliptic – obovate, up to 11 x 6 cm, narrowed at base, obtuse or subacute at apex, coriaceous; tertiary veins prominently elevated on lower surface; petiole ca 5 mm long. Flowers small, in terminal corymbose cymes, white, fragrant. Calyx tube turbinate, obscurely 4-lobed. Petals 4 (or 5), connate into a calyptra. There is no staminal disc. The stamens are numerous. The ovary is inferior and 2-locular. The fruit is a globose berry, around 0.5 cm in diameter, turning purple when ripe. It contains a solitary seed.

Flowering : May – June.
Fruiting : June – September.

Distribution: India: Common on laterite soil from coast to 900 m usually in open places. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Sri Lanka.

Uses: Fruits are edible. Tender leaves are used in gargles.

Symplocos racemosa Roxb. (SYMPLOCACEAE)

Common names
Kannada: Bala loddugina mara.
Tulu & Malayalam: Pachotti.
Sanskrit: Batabhadra, Balipriya.
Tamil: Velli-lethi.
Telugu: Lodduga, Sapara.
English: Sapphire berry, Sweet leaf.

Description: Evergreen trees, 10-15 m tall; bark often marked with white patches. Leaves crowded at the ends of the branches, elliptic-oblong or elliptic-lanceolate, 8-16 x 3-6.5 cm, narrowed at base, acute or acuminate at apex, glandular-serrate, crenate or subentire, glabrous on both sides, polished and shining above; nerves 6-10 pairs; petioles 0.6 – 1 cm long. Flowers in 8-18 cm long axillary racemes, white, fragrant. Calyx glabrous, lobes 5. Corolla lobes 5. Stamens numerous, in 5 phalanges; filaments united in bundles, filiform. The ovary is 2-locular, and the style, which is thick, features a ring of hairs and orange-colored glands at the base, with a capitate stigma. The fruit takes the form of a drupe, ranging from ellipsoid to ovoid or oblong, measuring 1-1.5 x 0.6 cm. It typically contains 1-3 oblong and hard seeds.

Flowering & Fruiting: October – May.

Distribution: India: Western Peninsula. Common in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of Western Ghats, up to 1300 m. South E. Asia.

Uses: The leaves and primarily the bark yield a yellow dye, employed as a mordant in conjunction with other dyes. Additionally, it serves as a component in a red powder utilized during the Holi festival. In calico-printing and leather dyeing, it functions as an auxiliary substance. Bark astringent, aphrodisiac, emmenagogue, tonic, used in diarrhoea, dysentery, leprosy, liver complaints, dropsy, diseases of blood, miscarriage, vaginal ulcers and discharges, ophthalmia and conjunctivitis, decoction employed to stop bleeding of gums; along with sugar bark is used in menorrhagia and other uterine disorders; root bark; leaf, fruit and seed are used in haemorrhage, burning sensation, polyuria, diabetes and for alleviating vata.

Strychnos nuxvomica L. (LOGANIACEAE)

Common names
Kannada: Hemmushti, Kasaraka.
Tulu: Kayar.
Malayalam: Kanjiram.
Sanskrit: Dirghapatra, Vishamushti.
Tamil: Etti, Kanjirai.
Telugu: Mushti, Mushidi.

Description: Large deciduous trees, up to 30 m tall with short sharp axillary spines; bark thin, grey, smooth or rough with lenticels. Leaves broadly elliptic or orbicular, 7-15 x 4-8 cm, attenuate at base, obtuse or acute at apex, glabrous and shining; basal nerves 3-5; nerves distinctly looped along the margins; petioles 0.6 – 1.3 cm long. Flowers numerous in 2-5 cm long terminal pedunculate pubescent compound cymes, greenish white, scent of fenugreek. Calyx pubescent outside, lobes 5. Corolla-tube cylindric, lobes 5, hairy inside below. Stamens 5; filaments short. Ovary ovoid, 2-locular; style glabrous; stigma capitate. The fruit is a globose berry, approximately 5 cm in diameter, with a smooth texture and an orange-red color. It contains 3-4 seeds that are flat, discoid, around 1.8 cm in diameter, highly compressed, and grey in appearance.

Flowering & Fruiting : March – June.

Distribution: India: Almost throughout. Western Ghats, W. Coast, Deccan in deciduous forests, up to 1300 m. Sri Lanka.

Uses:

• The wood is initially white, transitioning to a yellowish-grey shade, and is characterized by its hardness and close grain, making it suitable for various applications. Nuxvomica is employed as an insecticide to eradicate vermin in fields. Root febrifuge, anticholerin; stem-bark and wood anticholerin, used in epilepsy, dysentery, fever and dyspepsia; leaf applied as a poultice on wounds and ulcers; fruit diuretic emmenagogue, appetizer, tonic, antiparalytic, astringent, antirheumatic, used in fever, jaundice, leucoderma, diseases of blood, piles, ulcers, anaemia, lumbago, ringworm; seed tonic, stimulant, febrifuge, emetic, used in nervous disorders, colic and forms a constituent of medical preparations for the scalp.
• It is used in “Samirgaja Kesari” prescribed in the diseases of nervous system, in ‘Shul Heran Yoga’ prescribed for diarrhoea and in ‘Vishva-tapa Haran Ras’ given for fevers. The seeds are deadly poisonous but are not used as such. In indigenous systems, for internal use, the seeds repeatedly boiled in cow’s urine or milk, the seed-coat and embryo are removed and the dry powdered kernel is incorporated in the medicine.

Sterculia urens Roxb. (STERCULIACEAE)

Common names
Kannada: Bhutali, Kempudale.
Malayalam: Thondi.
Tamil: Kavalam, Senthanaku, Vellaippulali.
Telugu: Tabsu.

Description: The trees can reach heights of up to 15 meters, with young parts exhibiting varying degrees of pubescence. The bark is white, smooth, with an outer layer that peels off in papery sheets, revealing an inner fibrous texture. Leaves alternate, crowded at the ends of the branchlets, digitately 3-5 lobes, up to 20 x 20 cm, cordate at base, caudate-acuminate at apex, grey beneath; petioles up to 9.5 cm long. Flowers small, male and female mixed in much branched, glandular-pubescent terminal panicles, appearing before the leaves at the ends of branchlets, yellow. Calyx companulate, 5-lobed, glandular hairy lobes inside at base. Petals absent. Male flowers: anthers 10-15 at the top of staminal column. Female flowers: ovaries on gynophores with sterile anthers at base; styles curved; stigmas 5-lobed. Follicles 5, oblong or ovoid-oblong, up to 4 x 1.5 cm, red when young, densely pubescent, often mixed with stinging hairs. Seeds 3-6 in each follicle, oblong, ca 7 x 5 mm, black, glossy.

Flowering : October – March.
Fruiting : February – April.

Distribution: India: Almost throughout except Himalayas. Sri Lanka and Malesia.

Uses: Seeds are roasted and eaten. Gum called “Katila” is substitute for tragacanth, used in throat affections; Leaf and tender branches are used in pleuropneumonia in cattle.