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Capparis sepiaria - Himsra

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Himsra, Capparis sepiaria

Himsra is a scrambling, prickly, evergreen shrub or climbing plant. It grows around 3 metres tall. The plant is a local source of food, medicines and fuel. It is sometimes cultivated for its edible leaves and sold in local markets in tropical Africa.

Uses

Digestive disorders, Asthma, Cough, Cold, Inflammation [1]Fever, Toothache[2].

Parts Used

Root, Leaves[2].

Chemical Composition

Leaves contain taraxasterol, alphaand beta-amyrin and beta-sitosterol, erythrodiol and betulin. [3]

Common names

Language Common name
Kannada ಕಾಡು ಕತ್ತರಿ Kaadu kathari, ಕತ್ತಿರಿ ಗಿಡ Kattiri gida
Hindi Aundi, Chaili, Chhail,
Malayalam Kakkathondi
Tamil Cirukattiri, Peykkattiri, Kattukathiri
Telugu Nalla uppi
Marathi Kanthar, Maastodi
Gujarathi NA
Punjabi NA
Kashmiri NA
Sanskrit Ahimsra, Gridhranakhi
English Hedge caper, Wild caper bush

[4]

Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Dravya

Rasa

Tikta (Bitter)

Guna

Laghu (Light), Rooksha (Dry)

Veerya

Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka

Katu (Pungent)

Karma

kapha, Vata

Prabhava

Habit

Climber

Identification

Leaf

Kind Shape Feature
Simple Alternate Leaves 3-4 x 2 cm, oblong-lanceolate, apex emarginate, base acute, pubescent; petiole ca. 0.5 cm, stipular spines in pairs, small, recurved

[5]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
Bisexual Corymbose umbel Greenish white Many Umbels corymbose, terminal and axillary; peduncles to 1 cm. Flowers to 1 cm across, white; pedicels 1.5 cm. Flowering season is from March to May

Fruit

Type Size Mass Appearance Seeds More information
A berry 8 - 10 mm A small, Globose, Black berry One seeded Fruiting from March to May

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

Lodhrasavam, Nisosiradi tailam, Sarvamayanthaka ghritam, Sahacharadi tailam, Kottamchukkadi tailam, Eladi tailam[6]

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

Requires a sunny position. Found in the wild often growing on termite mounds, It forms impenetrable thickets when growing in clay soils of depressions and in seasonally flooded areas with (iron) hardpans.

Commonly seen growing in areas

Tropical area

Photo Gallery

References

  1. Referred an Article by Easy Ayurveda
  2. 2.0 2.1 ”Karnataka Medicinal Plants Volume-3” by Dr.M. R. Gurudeva, Page No.203, Published by Divyachandra Prakashana, #6/7, Kaalika Soudha, Balepete cross, Bengaluru
  3. Chemical composition
  4. Vernacular names
  5. Botonic description
  6. Ayurvedic preparations

External Links