Are they not the same tribe who are associated with the famed Arogyapacha? On Tue, Jan 1, 2013 at 7:04 AM, Vijayasankar <[email protected]>wrote:
> Dear friends, > > I wish you all a very happy new year 2013. > > Here is my 'Flora Picture of the Year 2012'. > > "the seed is now ready to continue the legacy for generations to come, and > thus to protect the species from possible extinction"! > * > Decalepis** arayalpathra* (J.Joseph & V.Chandras.) Venter* > *Synonym:* **Janakia* *arayalpathra* J.Joseph & Chandras. > Family: Apocynaceae (previously under Periplocaceae). > > *Decalepis arayalpathra* is a bushy perennial subshrub with milky latex, > growing up to 2 m high. It is endemic to the southern Western Ghats and > only has few isolated populations found on high altitude rocky habitats. At > FRLHT, we conducted extensive explorations across its distribution range in > order to assess the population size and also to find suitable sites for in > situ conservation. It has been assessed as 'Critically Endangered'. It > occurs in Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts in Tamil Nadu and in > Tiruvananthapuram district in Kerala. The local Kani tribes use the fleshy > aromatic roots as tonic and also to treat various stomach ailments. > > The ‘Kani’ tribe calls this plant AMRITHAPALA and use it as effective > remedy for peptic ulcer, cancer-like afflictions and as a tonic to regain > the lost strength and > stamina.<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3331335/pdf/ASL-9-212.pdf> > > The specific epithet 'arayalpathra' denotes the resemblance of leaves to > that of *Ficus religiosa*. 'Arayal' is Malayalam name for Peepul tree, > and 'pathra' means leaf. The original generic name 'Janakia' was to > commemorate Dr.E.K. Janaki > Ammal<http://www.ias.ac.in/resonance/June2007/p4-9.pdf>, > a renowned scientist of Botanical Survey of India, for her valuable > contributions to the botany of India. She was appointed by Nehru ji the > then PM as 'Special Officer' to reorganize the BSI to the current structure. > > Regards > > Vijayasankar Raman > National Center for Natural Products Research > University of Mississippi > > -- > > > > -- Dr. Chitra Shanker Sr. Scientist (Entomology) Directorate of Rice Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad -500030 --
