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Indian Kudzu
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Indian Kudzu
ative Photo: Thingnam Girija
Common name: Indian kudzu, Nepalese kudzu • Bengali: শিমিআ বাতরাজী Shimia Batraji • Dogri: बदाड़ Badaad, बिद्द Bidd, सेयाली Seyali • Gujarati: ભોંયકોળું Bhonyakolum, ખાખરવેલ Khakhar-Vel, ફગડાનો વેલો Phagadano Velo, ફગીયો Phagiyo, વિદારીકંદ Vidarikanda • Hindi: बनकुमड़ा Bankumara, बिलाई कन्द Bilayi Kand, सुराल Sural, विदारीकन्द Vidarikand • Kannada: ಭೂ ಸಕ್ಕರೆ ಗಡ್ಡೆ Bhoo Sakkare Gadde, ಗುಮಡಿ ಗಿಡ Gumadi Gida • Konkani: बिरमोलो Birmolo • Kumaoni: बिरालु Biralu, बिसालु Bisalu, सिराल Sirala • Malayalam: മുതുക്ക് Muthukku • Marathi: बेंदरवेल Bendarvel, भरडा Bharada, भुईकोहळा Bhuikohala, दारी Dari, घोडवेल Ghodvel, विदारी Vidari • Mishing: ভূই কোমোৰা Bhuin Komora • Mizo: Bul-Ei, Thing-Ba, Zawng-Tur • Nepali: बिरालि कन्द Birali Kanda, देब्रे लारा Debre Laaraa • Odia: କଟକା Kataka • Punjabi: ਸਿਆਲੀ Siali, ਸੁਰਾਲਾ Surala • Sanskrit: भूमिकुष्माण्ड Bhumikusmanda, गजवाजिप्रिया Gajavajipriya, इक्षुगन्धा Iksu-Gandha, कन्दपलाश Kandapalash, स्वादुकन्दा Svadukanda, विदारी Vidari • Santali: ᱡᱟᱝ ᱛᱤᱨᱲᱟᱹ Jang Tirda, ᱯᱟᱛᱟᱞ ᱠᱚᱦᱚᱱᱰᱟ Patal Kohonda, ᱴᱤᱨᱨᱲᱟᱹ ᱪᱟ Tirrda Ca • Tamil: கரிக்கும்மடி Karikkummati, நிலப்பூசனி Nila-P-Pucani • Telugu: దారి గుమ్మడి Dari Gummadi, కుబాయ తీగ Kubaaya Thige, నేల గుమ్మడి Nela Gummadi, విదారి కంద Vidhaari Kanda • Urdu: بلائي کند Bilayi Kand Source: Names of Plants in India
Botanical name: Pueraria tuberosa    Family: Fabaceae (Pea family)
Synonyms: Hedysarum tuberosum

Indian kudzu is a large perennial climber with very large tuberous roots, distributed nearly throughout India, except in very humid or very arid regions, and ascending up to l,200 m. Woody stems grow up to 12 cm in diameter. Leaves are divided into 3 leaflets. The leaflets are egg-shaped, with round base and unequal sides. They are 18 cm long and 16 cm wide and are hairless above. Flowers blue or purplish blue, in 15-30 cm long racemes. Pods are flat and 5-7 cm long, densely clothed with long, silky, bristly brown hairs; seeds 3-6. Indian Kudzu is found in the Himalayas, from Kashmir to Nepal, at altitudes of 300-1500 m. It is also found in Western Ghats and some other parts of India. Flowering: March-April.
Medicinal uses: In Ayurveda, this herb is used as a general tonic, for headaches, and as a aphrodisiac. The roots are said to be used in medicine as a demulcent and refrigent in fevers, as cataplasm for swelling of joints, and as lactagogue. It is also emetic, galactogogue and tonic. Now a days it is used in preparing sexual potency enhancement pills.

Identification credit: Pravin Kawale Photographed in Uttarakhand & Maharashtra

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