| Ban Tulsi |
|
 |
|
| File size | 661975 |
| Original date | 7/25/06 4:23 PM |
| Resolution | 2048 x 1536 |
| Flash | Flash did not fire, auto |
| Focal length | 6.1mm |
| Exposure time | 1/48s |
| Aperture | 2.9 |
| Focus Distance | |
| Metering Mode | Partial |
| Camera make | NIKON |
| Camera model | E3700 |
| Sensor type |
 |
 aturalized |
 |
 |
Photo: |
Botanical name: Croton bonplandianus Family: Euphorbiaceae (castor family)
Normally Crotons are popular foliage plants. This is a wild species of
croton. Due to the resemblance of the leaves and flower cymes to that of
Tulsi, this plant is often called Ban Tulsi (jungle tulsi)
It is a small annual herb, growing up to 1-2 ft tall. Alternately arranged
leaves, 3-5 cm long, are lance-shaped, with a toothed margin. Small white
flowers are borne in 3-8 cm long racemes at the end of branches. Flowers have
5 sepals and 5 petals and numerous long stamens protruding out. Fruit is a 5
mm oblong capsule, with a warty surface.
Ban tulshi is grown abundantly in the rural areas of
Malda, West Bengal, and is used as both a fuel and a detergent. First the stems
and branches of ban tulshi are used as fuel. Then the ash is collected and
kept in a bottle for five or six days. The ash is put in warm water and used
as a detergent for cleaning cotton garments. Ban Tulsi is native to
S. Bolivia to Uruguay, now widespread in the Indian subcontinent.
Flowering: September-November.
| Identification credit: Mahadeswara Swamy | Photographed in Delhi. |
• Is this flower misidentified? If yes,