Cheilocostus speciosus - Kemuka

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kemuka, kustha, Cheilocostus speciosus

Kemuka or Cheilocostus speciosus differs from the common ginger by having only one row of spirally arranged leaves. The species reproduces vegetatively by rhizome, and birds disperse the seeds when they feed on the fruits.This plant is cultivated in India for its medicinal uses, and is cultivated elsewhere as an ornamental. In some areas Cheilocostus speciosus is introduced and has become an invasive species.

Uses

Wounds, Cuts, Snakebites, Curing liver disorders, Skin eruptions, Blotches, Pimples, Diarrhea, Sore throats

Parts Used

Dried Folaige, Whole herb.

Chemical Composition

Contains volatile oils, flavonoids, apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, kaempferol, tiliroside, triterpene glycosides including euscapic acid and tormentic acid, phenolic acids, and 3%–21% tannins.

Common names

Language	Common name
Kannada	nari kabbu
Hindi	kushtha
Malayalam	anakkuva
Tamil	kostam
Telugu	kasmiramu
Marathi	NA
Gujarathi	NA
Punjabi	NA
Kashmiri	NA
Sanskrit	kemuka
English	Crepe Ginger, cane-reed

Habit

Herb

Identification

Leaf

Kind	Shape	Feature
Simple	Non-Palm Foliage	Mature Foliage Texture is Velvety / Furry / Tomentose and Foliar Attachment to Stem is Petiolate

Flower

Type	Size	Color and composition	Stamen	More information
Unisexual	2-4cm long	Yellow	5-20	Flowers Season is June - August

Fruit

Type	Size	Mass	Appearance	Seeds	More information
	7–10 mm (0.28–0.4 in.) long pome	clearly grooved lengthwise, Lowest hooked hairs aligned towards crown	With hooked hairs		{{{6}}}

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

• Vishatinduka Taila as root juice extract

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

Easily grown in most soils, preferring a calcareous soil. Thrives in a dry lightly shaded position, though it prefers full sun.Plants usually self-sow quite freely when growing in a suitable position. The seeds are contained in burrs that can easily attach themselves to clothing or animal's fur, thus transporting them to a new area where they can germinate and grow.The cultivar 'Sweet scented' is popular in France for making tea because the whole plant is sweet scented and the flowers have a spicy apricot-like fragrance

Commonly seen growing in areas

Tall grasslands, meadows, Borders of forests and fields.

Photo Gallery

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