Basic Information
Species : Gynandropsis pentaphylla DC.
Local Name :
Synonym : Gynandropsis gynandra (Linn.) Briq.
Family : Capparidaeae.
Habitat : An erect glandular, pubescent, showy herb, commonly met with in waste lands or
cultivated ground through out the warmer parts of India.
Distribution : Distributed in subtropical areas.
Sikkim : Dzongu, Pakyong, Namchi, Dentam.
Out side : West Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Rajputana Desert, South Africa.
Morphological information
Herb up to 2 m tall. Leaves broadly ovate. Shallowly or deeply lobed, 10- 20 x 8- 20 cm, acuminate, base rounded; petioles 3- 10 cm; stipules ovate, 2- 2.5 cm. Male flowers c1.5 mm diameter. Herb up to 2 m tall. Leaves broadly ovate. Shallowly or deeply lobed, 10- 20 x 8- 20 cm, acuminate, base rounded; petioles 3- 10 cm; stipules ovate, 2- 2.5 cm. Male flowers c1.5 mm diameter.
Flowering : July-September.
Fruiting : October-February.
History
:
Parts : Roots and flowers.
Status : Low risk.
Medicinal
Freshly collected roots are crushed with the stems of Senecio intermedius shoots of Viscum monoicum, bulb of Kaempferia rotunda and the prepared paste is applied externally incase of bone fracture, join dislocation and bandaged for 5- 7 days. The boiled soup of young inflorescence is effective against high blood pressure. Delicious and nutritious nettle soup is used in diabetes.
Reference
1. Grierson, A.J.C. and D.G. Long (1983). Flora of Bhutan including a record of
plants from Sikkim (Vol. 1, part 1). Royal Botanical Garden, Edinburgh. 111. 2. Progress Report of the Project " Studies on Medicinal Plants Of Sikkim" (1998- 2001). State Council of Science and Technology for Sikkim.