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Nag Kuda
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Nag Kuda
ative Photo: Prashant Awale
Common name: Nag Kuda • Kannada: ಬಿಳಿ ಕೊಡಸಲು bili kodasalu, ಹಾಲ್ಮೇಟಿ halmeti, ಮದ್ದರಸ maddarasa, ಮದ್ಲೆಮರ madle mara, ನಾಗರಕುಡ naagar kuda • Konkani: नागरकुडो nagarkudo • Malayalam: കുണ്ധലപ്പാല kundhalappaala, കുന്നിന്‍പാല kunninpaala • Marathi: नाग कुडा naag kuda, पांढरा कुडा pandhra kuda • Sanskrit: काम्पिल्लकः kampillakah, पिण्डतगर pindatagara • Tamil: குண்டலப்பாலா kundalappala, பால்வாடி palvadi • Tulu: ಮದ್ದರಸ maddarasa Source: Names of Plants in India
Botanical name: Tabernaemontana alternifolia    Family: Apocynaceae (Oleander family)
Synonyms: Ervatamia heyneana, Tabernaemontana heyneana

Nag Kuda is small tree native to Western Ghats, growing up to 2-5 m tall. Oppositely arranged leaves are elliptic-oblong, 23 cm long, 6.5 cm wide, prominently nerved. White flowers are borne in corymb-like cymes. Sepals are 5, thick, fused at the base. Flowers have a narrow tube which flares into a flat flower. Five stamens do not protrude out. Fruit is quite interesting - itconsists of two boat-shaped orange pods, up to 4 cm long, with recurved beaks.
Medicinal uses: This plant is used in Ayurveda.

Identification credit: Prashant Awale, Satish Pardesi, Neil Soares Photographed in Maharashtra.

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