Lovely shot, Rajesh ji.
Some extracts from Wikipedia link (for pictures & more details, click on the link): *Calycopteris floribunda*, commonly known as *Ukshi*, is a large climbing shrub <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrub> which is 5-10 m long, with vines<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vine>that are about 5–10 cm in diameter <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diameter>, the stem<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_stem>and leaves <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaves> are said to have medicinal properties. Ukshi is found extensively in the low-lying tropical<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical> evergreen <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evergreen> forests of the Western Ghats <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Ghats>. These are also found in "*Kavus*" or the Sacred Groves <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_Grove>of Kerala <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala>. It bears grey <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey> bark<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bark>and tenuous branches <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branch> with thick fluff on the surface. The keratinous <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keratine> leaves, ovoid or oval, are 5–12 cm long. New branches are hairy and rust coloured. The flowers <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flower> occur in dense clusters are the end of branches. The bracts <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bract> of the small flowers are ovoid or oval <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oval>, with thick fluffs on the surface. Petals<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petal>are absent and the 10 stamens <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamen> are arranged in 2 cycles. The fruit <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruit> inception bears 1 ventricle<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ventricle>and 3 pendulous ovules <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovule> inside. The fluffy sham-winged fruit, which is about 8 mm long, has 5 edges and 5 persistent calyxes<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepal>which enlarges into the fluffy wing 10–14 mm in length. The sepals are prominent, hairy and green. Ukshi is revered as a life-saver by the forest dwellers who regularly depend on this vine during summer when streams dry up. Sections of the vine store water, which people often use to quench their thirst. The leaves are bitter <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter>, astringent<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astringent>, laxative <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laxative>, anthelmintic<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthelmintic>, depurative<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Depurative&action=edit&redlink=1>, diaphoretic <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaphoretic> and febrifuge<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Febrifuge>. They are useful in intestinal worms, colic<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colic>, leprosy <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leprosy>, malarial fever<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malarial_fever>, dysentery <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysentery>, ulcers<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulcers>and vomiting <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vomiting>. The fruits are useful in jaundice <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaundice>, ulcers<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulcers>, pruritus <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pruritus> and skin diseases<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_diseases> . More details from Indiantreepix Database: *Calycopteris floribunda* *Combretaceae* *Paper Flower Climber, Ukshi, Pullani* Clusters of soft green flowers photographed this morning (2/3/08) in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai- Kiran ji. Calycopteris floribunda - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukshi> Paper Flower Climber, Ukshi in Marathi - indiantreepix | Google Groups<http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/2e45ef1eac44089e> Pani Lata ? - indiantreepix | Google Groups<http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/c78390c5d73c0dae> 2009/4/1 Rajesh Sachdev <[email protected]> > Photographed it at Tansa catchment a month ago. A single climber on > the entire streth of 12 Kms of walk. > > > > -- With regards, J.M.Garg "We often ignore the beauty around us" Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiantreepix" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
