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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. ==Uses=={{Uses|rheumatism}}, {{Uses|eye diseases}}, {{Uses|gonorrhea}}, {{Uses|diabetes}}, {{Uses|gout}}, {{Uses|diabetes}}. ==Parts Used=={{Parts Used|Dried Leaves}}. ==Chemical Composition==Seed contains anthraquinones,namely; (aurantio-obtusin, chryso-obtusin,obtusin, chrysoobtusin-2-O-beta-glucoside,physcion,emodin,chrysophanol,obtusifolin,obtusifolin-2-O-beta-D-glucoside, alaternin 2-O-β-Dglucopyranoside)15, brassinosteroids(brassinolide, castasterone, typhasterol,teasterone, and 28-norcastasterone), andmonoglycerides (monopalmitin andmonoolein)16. Phenolic glycosides such asrubrofusarin triglucoside, nor-rubrofusaringentiobioside, demethylflavasperonegentiobioside, torachrysone gentiobioside,torachrysone tetraglucoside and torachrysoneapioglucoside were also isolated 17<ref name="chemical composition"/> ==Common names=={{Common names|kn=Kemou honne|ml=Honne, Karintakara, Vengai, Venna-maram|sa=Asana, Bandhukapushpa|ta=Neyccarikamaram, Venkal-c-ciray|te=|hi=Banda, Bija-sal, Peisar, Jarul, Keukand|en=Avaram senna}} ==Habit=={{Habit|branched shrub}} ==Identification=====Leaf==={{Leaf|alternate|stipulate|The leaves are alternate, stipulate, paripinnate compound, very numerous, closely placed, rachis 8.8-12.5 cm long, narrowly furrowed, slender, pubescent, with an erect linear gland between the leaflets of each pair, leaflets 16-24, very shortly stalked 2-2.5 cm long 1-1.3 cm broad, slightly overlapping, oval oblong, obtuse, at both the ends}}.<ref name="Leaf"/> ===Flower==={{Flower|bisexual|2.5 cm long|bright yellow|5-20|The racemes are few-flowered, short, erect, crowded in axils of upper leaves so as to form a large terminal inflorescence stamens barren; the ovary is superior, unilocular, with marginal ovules.}} ===Fruit==={{Fruit|short legume|7.5–11 cm long, 1.5 cm broad|clearly grooved lengthwise, Lowest hooked hairs aligned towards crown|oblong, obtuse, tipped with long style base, flat, thin, papery, undulately crimpled, pilose, pale brown.|12-20 seeds}} ===Other features=== ==List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used==* [[Vishatinduka Taila]] as ''root juice extract'' ==Where to get the saplings====Mode of Propagation=={{Propagation|Seeds}}, {{Propagation|Cuttings}}. ==How to plant/cultivate==Plants reach about 3 m height with 3.5 cm stem diameter in 2 years, in 4 years about 5 m height and 7 cm stem diameter. Flowering and fruiting is almost throughout the year, but in India there are usually two main flowering periods, one in the early monsoon and another in the late monsoon.<ref name="How to plant/cultivate"/> ==Commonly seen growing in areas=={{Commonly seen|dry regions of India}}, {{Commonly seen|sea coast}}, {{Commonly seen|dry zone in Sri Lanka}}.

Chamaecostus cuspidatus has large fleshy looking leaves==Photo Gallery==<gallery class="left" caption="" widths="140px" heights="140px">File:Odermennig. 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 branchesjpgFile:Agrimonia eupatoria02.jpg

The dried leaves are used in Ayurvedic medicineImage:Agrimonia eupatoria MHNT.BOT.2004.0.jpg</gallery>

==Common nameReferences==

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