Enicostema axillare

• Botanical Name : Enicostema axillare (Poir. Ex Lam.) A. Raynal
• Synonyms : Enicostema hyssopifolium (Willd.) Verd.
• Common Name : Nanu Kariyatun, Mamejavo, Indian White Head
• Plant Family : Gentianaceae
• Plant Form : Herb
• Occurrence (Special Areas) : Indroda Park, Sarita Udyan

About Enicostema axillare Plant :

• Habit : A variable herb, stem 2-65 cm long, at first erect, later more or less procumbent, simple or branched from the base, subquadrangular, terete.
• Leaves : Sessile, linear to elliptic or lanceolate, more often long and narrow, acute or obtuse, glabrous strongly 3-nerved.
• Inflorescence : Axillary clusters.
• Flowers :
  • Sessile.
  • Calyx of 5 sepals united at the base; corolla of 5 petals, white, united below into a tube, free above.
  • Stamens 5, on the corolla.
• Fruit : Capsules glabrous and shining, seeds many minute.
• Flowering and Fruiting Time : Most of the year.
• Significance : An infusion of the plant is used as a bitter tonic.