| Arogya Pacha |
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Botanical name: Trichopus zeylanicus Family: Dioscoreaceae (Yam family)
Synonyms: Trichopodium zeylanicum, Trichopodium travancoricum, Trichopus malayanus
Synonyms: Trichopodium zeylanicum, Trichopodium travancoricum, Trichopus malayanus
Arogya Pacha is a perennial herb, with slender
rhizome. Leaves are ovate-lanceshaped, pointed or blunt, apiculate,
base deeply heart-shaped, up to 12 x 7 cm; 5-7 ribbed, leaf-stalk up to
5 cm. However, leaves can be quite variable in shape. Flowers are
fascicled at the base of the leaf-stalk. Flowers are dark brown,
bell-shaped, tepals lanceshaped. Stamens are 6, anthers apiculate.
Fruit is three-sided, purple-brown; seeds dorsally grooved. Arogya
Pacha is found in Southern Western Ghats, Sri Lanka, Malaysia,
Singapore and Thailand. Flowering: March-October.
Medicinal uses:
Arogya Pacha has been in use
for centuries by the Kaani tribal community of the Agastya Koodam
ranges in Kerala, for its medicinal properties. It was an accidental
discovery made a team lead by Scientists of TBGRI during the
Ethnomedico-Botanical exploration to the Agastyar valley areas of
Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala, India, which is located in the
southern most part of the Western Ghats that this plant has restorative
and anti-fatigue properties. The discovery of the unique property of
the plant was based on the leads obtained from disclosures by the Kani
tribe people who accompanied the group as Porters and Guides.
Medicinal uses:
Arogya Pacha has been in use
for centuries by the Kaani tribal community of the Agastya Koodam
ranges in Kerala, for its medicinal properties. It was an accidental
discovery made a team lead by Scientists of TBGRI during the
Ethnomedico-Botanical exploration to the Agastyar valley areas of
Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala, India, which is located in the
southern most part of the Western Ghats that this plant has restorative
and anti-fatigue properties. The discovery of the unique property of
the plant was based on the leads obtained from disclosures by the Kani
tribe people who accompanied the group as Porters and Guides. | Identification credit: Preetha P.S. | Photographed in Kollam distt., Kerala. |
• Is this flower misidentified? If yes,