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Indigofera tinctoria L.
Synonym
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Indigofera
tinctoria
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Family
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Leguminosae
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Local name
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English - Bengal indigo, Black Henna
Malayalam
- Neelayamari, Neelichedi
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Flowering and fruiting period
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August-December
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Distribution
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Paleotropics,
widely cultivated
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Distribution in Kerala
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All
Districts
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Habitat
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Degraded
forest areas and scrub jungle in the plains
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Uses
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it is used to treat a wide range of
disorders such as epilepsy, nervous disorders, asthma, bronchitis, fever, stomach pain, liver diseases, kidney and
spleen diseases, skin conditions, wounds sores, haemorrhoids, gonorrhoea,
syphilis, snake bites, etc.
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Key
Botanical Characters:
Suffrutescent
herbs, to 1.5 m tall; stem erect, appresed-pubescent. Leaves pinnately 5-13-foliolate;
leaflets opposite, elliptic to obovate, base and apex rounded. Inflorescence
axillary, spicate-racemose, many-flowered. Flowers 5-7 mm long, red; pedicels
1 mm long. Calyx 2-3 mm long, pubescent; lobes narrow lanceolate, acuminate.
Petals reddish; standard 4 mm long, suborbicular. Ovary 8-12 ovuled, hairy.
Pods 2-3 cm long, 2 mm wide, linear, straight or slightly curved, 8-12-seeded.
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