FoI
Philippine Violet
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Philippine Violet
P Native Photo: Kanshouwa Susie
Common name: Philippine Violet, bluebell barleria, crested Philippine violet, crested purple nail dye • Bengali: ঝিন্টি Jhinti • Gujarati: ઝીંટી Jhinti • Hindi: झिण्टी Jhinti, नील झिण्टी Nil Jhinti, तदरेलु Tadrelu • Kannada: ಪಟಿಕ Patika,ಸ್ಫಟಿಕ Sphatika, ಝಿಂಟಿ Jhinti, ಕುರುವಕ Kuruvaka, ಮುಳ್ಳುಗೋರಂಟೆ Mullugoranta, ಸೈರೀಯಕ Sairiyaka, ಝಂಟೆ Jhante • Malayalam: കരിമകുറുഞ്ഞി Karimkurunni • Marathi: कोरांटी Koranti, किंवा Kinva, काटेकोरंटी Kate-koranti • Nepali: भेंडे कुर्रो Bhende Kurro, कटसरैया Katsaraiya • Oriya: Saireyaka • Sanskrit: आर्तगलः Artagalah, बाण Bana, दासी कुरण्टकः Dasi Kurantakah, झिंटी Jhinti, ककुभ Kakubha, कुरण्टकः Kurantakah, कुरवकः Kuravakah, महासह Mahasaha, नीलम्लाइन्दुकः Nilamlaainduka, सैरीयकः Sairiyakah, सहचरः Sahacharah, सुभग Subhaga • Tamil: டிசம்பர் பூ December Poo, செம்முள்ளி Cem-Mulli, மிதுரி Mituri, நீலச்செம்முள்ளி Nila-C-Cemmulli, ஊதாமுள்ளி Uta Mulli, வெள்ளைநீலாம்பரம் Vellai-Nilamparam • Telugu: గొబ్బి Gobbi, కోడి కన్ను Kodi Kannu, ములుగోరంట Mulu Goranta, నీరు గోరంట Niru Goranta, పెద్ద గోరింట Pedda Gorinta • Nepali: भेडे कुर्रो Bhede Kurro, कटसरैया Katasaraiyaa, लारी फूल Laaree Phool, निलमणि Nilamani Source: Names of Plants in India
Botanical name: Barleria cristata    Family: Acanthaceae (Acanthus family)
Synonyms: Barleria alba, Barleria indica, Barleria napalensis
Philippine Violet is native to India and southeast Asia. It grows as a shrub 60-100 cm tall. The leaves are dark green on the upper surface and pale green on the lower surface. They are elliptic to narrowly ovate. The flowers are about 5 cm long, funnel-shaped in violet or pink color. The fruits are about 1.5 cm long ellipsoid capsules. Thy become hairless and glossy at maturity. In Tamil Nadu it is known as December Poo or December Flower as it blooms in December and is normally strung into garlands of flowers for women to wear in their hair.
Medicinal uses: Known as Angkab (อังกาบ) this plant is used in Thailand as a traditional herbal remedy. It allegedly acts as a tonic, diuretic and blood purifier.
Identification credit: Tabish Photographed in Manipur and Mizoram.
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