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Ipomoea mauritiana Jacq.
Synonym
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Batatas
paniculata
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Family
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Convolvulaceae
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Local name
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English - Giant potato
Malayalam - Palmuthukku
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Flowering and fruiting period
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August-September
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Distribution
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Pantropical
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Distribution in Kerala
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All
Districts
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Habitat
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Moist
deciduous forests, also in the plains
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Endemic/Exotic
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Exotic
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Uses
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The tuberous roots are
used to treat leprosy, skin diseases, helminthiasis, fever, bronchitis,
burning sensation etc.
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Key
Botanical Characters:
Glabrous
twining shrubs with tuberous roots. Leaves palmately 5-7-lobed, acuminate at
apex of lobations. Inflorescence axillary, few to many-flowered cymes.
Calyx-lobes subequal, 8 mm long, broadly ovate, glabrous. Corolla large,
pink, widely campanulate; tube 2.5-3 cm long, limb spreading, 4-5 cm across,
glabrous. Stamens included. Ovary 4-locular. Capsule ovoid. Seeds 4, ovoid,
black, wooly.
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