| Oval-Leaf Dayflower |
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Botanical name: Dictyospermum ovalifolium Family: Commelinaceae (Dayflower family)
Synonyms: Aneilema ovalifolium, Dictyospermum wightii
Synonyms: Aneilema ovalifolium, Dictyospermum wightii
Oval-Leaf Dayflower is a herb which is erect or
prostrate at base. Leaves are up to 15 x 5 cm, scattered and upper ones
whorled, usually stalkless, elliptic, tapering, base pointed, hairless;
sheath 2 cm long, hairless; mouth oblique. Flowers are borne in
pyramidal panicles, congested; branches and flower-stalks downy.
Flowers arise in groups of 3-6. Petals are 3 x 2 mm, pale blue with red
nerves; stamens 3, filaments naked. Sepals are 3 x 2 mm, obovate,
blunt, hairless. Capsules are 7 x 5 mm, spherical. Oval-Leaf Dayflower
is found in South India, Sri Lanka, NE India to Indo-China.
Medicinal uses:
Oval-Leaf Dayflower has
gained considerable interest for its horticultural and medicinal
importance, as its long roots were used in the treatment for allergies
and skin diseases.
Medicinal uses:
Oval-Leaf Dayflower has
gained considerable interest for its horticultural and medicinal
importance, as its long roots were used in the treatment for allergies
and skin diseases. | Identification credit: Radha Veach | Photographed at Agumbe, Karnataka. |
• Is this flower misidentified? If yes,