Clerodendrum paniculatum L.

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

Description: Shrub about 5-10 ft. tall. Bark grayish brown. Stem and branches hollow, slightly pubescent, obtusely quadrangular, nodes annulate, slightly hairy. Leaves opposite, larger at the base gradually becoming smaller towards the apex, ovate-cordate to ovate-sub orbicular, palmately lobed, base auriculate or sub rotund, margins lobed or dentate serrate with glands along margins, apex shallow acuminate or acute, membranous or coriaceous, dark green slightly pubescent above, slightly paler sub-glabrous with numerous glands beneath, lateral veins 3-7 on either side of the midrib, veins impressed above and densely pubescent and prominent beneath, petiole canaliculated, stout, slightly pubescent. Inflorescence terminal panicle, wider in the base, peduncle slightly pubescent, about 1-2 cm long, bracts leaf-like, ovate, apex acute, bractlets linear. Flowers bisexual, numerous, pedicels filiform, calyx campanulate, 5 toothed, deeply divided nearly to the base, oblong lanceolate, apex acute, reddish orange, corolla hypocrateriform, 5 lobed, lobes oblong or obovate, apex acute, pubescent outside, reddish orange, about corolla tube slender, curvate, glabrous or very slightly hairy outside about 3 mm long, stamens 4 didynamous, exserted, filaments slender, about 2-3 cm long, reddish, anthers oblong about 2 mm long, ovary bicarpellary, ovoid or globose, 4 lobed, 4 loculed, about 0.2 cm across, style filiform, purple, stigma shortly bifid. Fruit drupaceous, globose, about 1 cm in diameter with 4 pyrenes, fleshy, purplish black when ripe, fruiting calyx persistent.

Flowering and Fruiting: February - October

Uses: Used in traditional medicine for kidney problems, sore eyes, urinary tract disorders and gonorrhea. Used as antioxidant. Leaves and roots contain flavonoids, tannins, cardio glycosides, saponins, and terpenoids

Cultivation: Cultivated

References

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org

https://indiabiodiversity.org