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Chamaecostus cuspidatus - Bandhukapushpa
Chamaecostus cuspidatus, common name Fiery Costus or Spiral Flag, is a species of herbaceous plant in the Costaceae family native to eastern Brazil (States of Bahia and Espirito Santo). In India, it is known as insulin plant because of its use in Ayurvedic medicine for its purported anti-diabetic properties.
Description
Chamaecostus cuspidatus has large fleshy looking leaves. The undersides of these large, smooth, dark green leaves have light purple shade. The leaves are spirally arranged around the stem, forming attractive, arching clumps arising from underground rootstocks. The maximum height of these plants is about two feet. The flowers are orange in color and are 1.5 in (3.8 cm) in diameter. Flowering occurs during the warm months. And they appear to be cone-like heads at the tips of branches.
The dried leaves are used in Ayurvedic medicine.
Common name
- English - Banaba
- Kannada - ಕೆಂಪು ಹೊನ್ನೆ
- Hindi - Banda
