MEDICINAL PLANTS OF SIKKIM

 

 

Basic Information

 

                  

Species                      : Canna edulis Ker-Gawl.

Local Name                : Phul tarul, Aangkal (Nep), Kafer book(Lep)

Synonym                   :

Family                        : Cannaceae

Habitat                      : A rhizomatous herb cultivated in kitchen garden.

Distribution                : Distributed from sub tropical to tropical region.

Sikkim                         : Gangtok (Tadong), Ranipool- Singtam, Keetam, Dikchu, Lower and Upper Samdong, Chawang- Phoktam,

                                     Singhik- Salim Pakyel, Hee- Gyathong -  Kusong (upper Dzongu), Rinchenpong (Sangadorjee).

Out side                      : Native to Peru cultivated as food crop in parts of South America, Asia and the Pacific Islands, Australia.

Morphological information

A handsome perennial with robust erect, reddish brown, fleshy pseudostems 1.0- 3.5 m in height. Rhizome much- branched, thick with parallel annular leafscars, yellowish white or rose coloured 2.5- 3.5 cm in diameter; leaves upto 60 cm long and 20 cm wide, long petioled, bronze coloured, ovate,oblong or elliptic, base acute or decurrent along the petioled, apex acute or obtusely acuminate, glabrous, flowers red, usually in pairs subtended by bracts in loose terminal inflorescences capsules obovoid; seeds hard, rounded.

Flowering              : November-January

Fruiting                 : January-March

History                 :

Parts                    : Rhizome.

Status                  : Cultivated, endangered in wild.

 

Agrocultivation

 The plant is propagated through small terminal portions of rhizomes, which are planted on ridges, in May, at a spacing of 1 m X 0.5 m. Except for a basal application of farmyard manure. Generally fertilizers are not applied. The rhizome may be harvested in about eight months.

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Medicinal

In the pharmaceutical industry it is used in the manufacture of pills and tablets dispersing powders and starch sugars. The rhizomes are diaphoretic, demulcent and diuretic, useful in fevers.

 


Reference

1. Anonymous (1992). The Useful Plants of India. Publication and Information Directorate, CSIR, New Delhi. 101.

2. Anonymous (1992). The Wealth of India (Vol. 3). Publications and Information Directorate, CSIR, New Delhi. 194-195.

3. Progress Report of the Project "Studies on Medicinal Plants of Sikkim" (1998- 2001). State Council of Science and Technology for Sikkim.