939

Celastrus paniculatus Willd.

Synonym	:	Catha paniculata Scheidw. i
Family	:	Celastraceae
Local name	:	English-   Jyothishmathi Malayalam - Intellect plant
Flowering and fruiting period	:	December-May
Distribution	:	South Asia and Australia
Distribution in kerala	:	All districts
Habitat	:	Moist deciduous and semi evergreen forests
Uses	:	Its reported activities are antiviral, antibacterial, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, antispermatogenic, sedative, anti-fatigue and analgesic, hipolipidemic. It is arthralagenic, antirhumatic, aphrodisiac, emetic, laxative, nervine tonic.
Key Botanical Characters  :  Climbing shrubs; stem lenticellate. Leaves simple, alternatebroadly ovate, apex abruptly acuminate, base ronded or acute, crenulate; petiole 6 mm long. Panicle to 15 x 8 cm, terminal, axillary, oblong; pedicel 6 mm long; flowers many, Sepals 5, small, imbricate, ciliate. Petals white, ovate, obtuse. Stamens 5, erect, anthers sagitate at base. Ovary 3-celled, cell 2-ovuled, stigma 3, recurved. Capsule loculicidal, yellow; seeds 3, aril reddish.