OF THE WEEK 16TH WEEK 23-05-2015 tuberosa Lour. Botanical Name : Stemona Uses tuberosa Lour. Tuberous root extract of is used as an antilice agent by Synonyms : the tribal people and their domesticated for animals and as fish poison. Roxburghia gloriosoides Powder of tuberous root is used for preservation of food grains and also used as mosquito repellent agent. An extract of the tuberous root is taken Roxb. orally to relieve abdominal pain and stomach trouble. The root extract is Roxburghia gloriosa Pers. used for the relieve from joint pain and malaria. Roxburghia stemona Steud. Roxburghia viridiflora Sm. Stemona root is used to stop chronic and acute coughs, Family : ventilate the lungs, and treat asthma. It is used as an antiparasitic for condi- tions such as pinworms. The tubers of this species contain an alkaloid Local Name called stemonine (C22H33NO4). It is strongly effective against Pediculus Odiya: Koelkand capitus, P. corporis and Phthirus pubis without irritation or toxicity in the respiratory track. In addition, the tuberous roots also contain alkaloids: tu- Telgu: Tiga berostemonine, isotuberostemonine, stemonidine, sinostemonine, ste- monone, stemonal, neo tuberostemonine and stemonine. Fruit Habitat Occasionally found in open forests along mountain slopes. Stemona tuberosa in its habitat Description Source: Distribution Stemona tuberosa is a perennial woody climber with tuberous root . (Andhra Pradesh, Arun- Root: Tuberose, white. Saxena, H.O. & Brahmam, M. (1994). achal Pradesh, Bengal, Od- Leaf : Leaf simple, petiolate, opposite or whorled, rarely alternate, similar to those of Dio- The Flora of Orissa, Vol. III, pp: 1939-40. isha), , Bangladesh, New scorea, except secondary venation. Leaf blade ovate in shape, apex is finely caudate or finely Guinea, Taiwan, , acuminate, surface glabrous with 7-11 primary nerves running from the base towards the Bharali et al. (2014). ETHNOPHARMA apex, out of them only 3-5 reaching the tip, arcuate, with very fine close straight cross nur- , Philippines, Cambo- COGNOSY OF Stemona tuberosa vules, base truncately to deeply cordate with rounded LOUR., A POTENTIAL MEDICINAL dia. In Odisha this species is lobes. PLANT SPECIES OF ARUNACHAL found in Ganjam, Gajapati, PRADESH, INDIA. World Journal of Pharmacy Khurda, Nayagarh and Inflorescence : Racemes, 1-3 flowered. Flowers 2.5-5 and Pharmaceutical Sciences. pp: 1072-1081. cm long, erect, foetid, greenish-yellow colour with Koraput districts. many parallel purple nerves, campanulate. Tepals Anthony C. Dweck FLS FRSH FRSC : lanceolate, acuminate to finely acuminate. Stamens A review of Wild Asparagus (Stemona Flowering Time : April-July purple, very large, erect with stout red filaments, tuberosa) Lour. Fruiting time : May-August deeply grooved in front with crenulate margins; con-

nective green; anthers linear , inner layer of cells pro- www.envis.frlht.org Conservation Status duced into a subulate point; pollen waxy to floury. www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Stemona tube- Fruit : Capsule ovoid-oblong, 3.7 cm long, sev- rosa. Vulnerable Flowers eral .