Nyctanthes arbor-tristis - Parijata

Parijata, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis

Parijata, is a large shrub or small tree with spreading branches, growing up to 10 metres tall. The plant is particularly valued for its flowers which are used in traditional medicine, as a dye and a source of an essential oil. The plant has very fragrant flowers and is widely cultivated as an ornamental in tropical and subtropical regions all over the world. It is often planted near Hindu temples in India and Sri Lanka, as well as in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Uses

Sciatica, Constipation, Intestinal worms, Asthma, Difficulty in micturition, Poisoning

Parts Used

Bark, Leaves, Heartwood, Seeds

Common names

Language	Common name
Kannada	harisringi, paarijaatha, parijataka
Hindi	harshingar, seoli, sephalika, siharu,
Malayalam	manjapumaram, parijatakam, pavilamalli
Tamil	pavazha-malli, pavilamalligai
Telugu	krishnavaeni, shvethasurasa, parijatamu, pagadamalle
Marathi	NA
Gujarathi	NA
Punjabi	NA
Kashmiri	NA
Sanskrit	harasimgara, kharapatraka, parijata, sephalika
English	Coral Jasmine

Properties

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

Rasa

Tikta (Bitter)

Guna

Laghu (Light), Rooksha (Dry)

Veerya

Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka

Katu (Pungent)

Karma

Kapha, Vata

Habit

Tree

Identification

Leaf

Kind	Shape	Feature
Simple	Opposite	leaves decussate-opposite; petioles 5-20 mm long, not articulate, short-pubescent; leaf blades ovate or those near the flowers sometimes oblong, 3.5-13 cm long, 2-9 cm wide, apically acute or acuminate, basally rounded or cordate to cuneate, marginally varying from entire to very coarsely and unequally glandular-dentate or serrate on the lower portions, angular-lobed, very scabrous above with whitish bulbous-based hairs, only the bases persisting, densely short-pubescent beneath

Flower

Type	Size	Color and composition	Stamen	More information
Bisexual	axillary or terminal panicle	Pale yellow		The flowers are fragrant, with a five- to eight-lobed white corolla with an orange-red centre; they are produced in clusters of two to seven together, with individual flowers opening at dusk and finishing at dawn.

Fruit

Type	Size	Mass	Appearance	Seeds	More information
A capsule	2 cm long and wide, 3-4 mm wide		compressed	usually shortly mucronate at the apex, 2-celled, 2-valved, opening transversely from the apex; seeds 1 per cell, compressed.	{{{6}}}

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

• Manasamitra vatakam
• Bala taila
• Ashwagandharishta

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

Commonly seen growing in areas

Tropical area, Sub tropical area

Photo Gallery

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  Leaves

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  Flower

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  Capsules

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  Flowers

External Links

• Uses
• [1]