1137

 Hemigraphis alternata (Burm.f.) T. Anderson

 

Synonym	:	Ruellia colorata Blume
Family	:	ACANTHACEAE
Local name	:	Malayalam- . Murikootti English-Red ivy
Flowering and fruiting period	:	February-May
Distribution	:	Native of Central America
Distribution in kerala	:	All Districts
Habitat	:	Grown as garden plant
Uses	:	used to promote urination, check and heal hemorrhages, stop dysentery, and treat venereal diseases.
Key Botanical Characters:  It is a prostrate plant with attractive purple colored leaves. Leaves are opposite, ovate, 4.5-8 cm wide, with a somewhat blunt tip and rounded and heart shaped base with toothed margins. Flowers are white, found in terminal spikes up to 7 cm long. Flowers are tubular, cylindrical below, Swollen above, 1.0-1.5 cm long and 5 lobed.