Gandarusa

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File size 63933

Original date 10/1/09 5:52 PM
Resolution 1056 x 792
Flash Flash did not fire, auto
Focal length 7.4mm
Exposure time 1/60s
Aperture 2.8
Focus Distance
Metering Mode Multi-segment
Camera make Panasonic
Camera model DMC-FZ50
Sensor type OneChipColorArea

ative Photo: Kiran Srivastava

Common name: Gandarusa, Warer willow • Hindi: Nili nargandi,
Kala bashimb • Marathi: tev, bakas, kalaadulsa • Tamil: karunochi,
vadaikkutti • Malayalam: karunochchi, vada-kodi • Telugu:
addasaramu, gandharasamu, nalla-noch-chili • Kannada:
aduthodagidda, karalakkigidde, karinekki • Bengali: jagatmadan •
Oriya: nilanirgundi • Assamese: tita-bahak, bishalya karani • Sanskrit:
bhutakeshi, gandharasa, indrani, kapika, krishnanirgundi
Botanical name: Justicia gendarussa Family: Acanthaceae
(Ruellia family)
Synonyms: Gendarussa vulgaris, Adhatoda subserrata

Gandarusa is an erect, branched, smooth undershrub 0.8-1.5 m tall.

The leaves are lance-shaped, 7-14 cm long, 1-2.5 cm wide, and
pointed at the ends. The rather small flowers are borne in 4-12 cm
long spikes, at the end of branches or in leaf axils. The teeth of the
sepals cup are smooth, linear, and about 3 mm long. The flowers are
about 1.5 cm long, white or pink, with purple spots. The capsule is
club-shaped, about 12 mm long, and smooth.
Medicinal uses: Gandarusa is reputed for its beneficial effects in
Respiratory disorders like cough, cold, bronchitis, throat infections,
pulmonary infections and allergic disorders like bronchial asthma. It is
assumed to possess greater medicinal value to yellow vasa plant or
Adhatoda vasica.
Identification credit: N.S. Dungriyal
Photographed in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Maharashtra & FRI,
Dehradun.