Clerodendrum infortunatum L.

Taxonomy: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Lamiales > Lamiaceae > Clerodendrum > C. infortunatum

Description: Shrubs; bark grey and corky; young shoots tawny villous. Leaves ovate or orbicular, base cordate, margin entire or denticulate, apex acuminate, villous beneath and tomentose above; basally 5-7 nerved; petiole to 8 cm long. Panicle terminal, villous. Bracts foliaceous. Calyx cupular, lobes lanceolate, 3-5-ribbed, acuminate at apex, tomentose. Corolla white, tubular; tube 1-1.5 cm long, villous without; lobes 6-10 mm long, oblong, hairy without. Stamens 4; filaments slender, purplish, 2-2.5 cm long; anthers oblong. Ovary globose; style slender; exserted. Drupe 6-8 mm across, globose, bluish-black on ripening; fruiting calyx enlarged, pink. Seeds 2-4, globose, 2-3 mm across.

Flowering and Fruiting: December-February

Uses: Used in Ayurveda and Siddha medicine for rheumatism, fever, diarrhea and skin complaints. Has good antibacterial activity. Fresh leaf juice is said to be vermifuge

Cultivation: Wild.

References

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org

https://indiabiodiversity.org