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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.[1]

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

[2]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
Bisexual 2-4cm long Red, White, Yellow / Golden 5-8 FlowerTexture is Smooth, Thin and Individual Flower Shape is Trumpet-shaped

Fruit

Type Size Mass Appearance Seeds More information
Simple Fruit 7–10 mm (0.28–0.4 in.) long pome Fruit Type is Fleshy Fruit (Non-Accessory Fruit: Berry) Mature Fruit Colour is Brown, Red many {{{6}}}

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

Where to get the saplings

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[3]

Commonly seen growing in areas

Tall grasslands, Meadows, Borders of forests and fields.

Photo Gallery

References

External Links