Martynia annua

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Photographs by: Dr. Maulik Gadani

Botanical Name : Martynia annua L.
Synonyms : Martynia diandra Gloxin
Common Name : Vinchhi Kanto, Vinchhudo, Devil's Claws
Plant Family : Martyniaceae
Earlier this plant was placed in Pedaliaceae but as per recent changes it is known to be placed in Martyniaceae by some authors and taxonomists.
Plant Form : Herb
Occurrence (Sectors) : 2, 4, 10, 26, 27

Habit : A branched herb.
Stem : Succuent, tomentose-glandular.
Leaves :
Opposite, subcordate or cordate, distantly dentate with the veins ending in denticles at the margin, glandular, petiole slightly shorter than or as long as the lamina, glandular.
Flowers :
- Showy, lilac, mottled red blue or yellow inside, pedicellate.
- Sepals 5, free, oblong-lanceolate, unequal, glandular.
- Corolla gibbous, glandular outside, 5-lobed, the posterior lobe the largest, lobes tinged purple obtuse.
- Fertile stamens 2, filaments glandular at the base, anthers bilobed, lobes divergent, oblong, adnate when young to the other anther pair, dehiscing longitudinally, staminodes 2, slightly curved.
- Ovary globose, glabrous, situated on the top of the subglobose disc, style slender, persistent, stigmas 2, sensitive, flat.
Fruit : Caspsule, more or less ovoid, 2 valved, with the style splitting into 2 curved, lignified and spiny processes.
Flowering and Fruiting Time : August - December
Significance :
- The leaves are given in epilepsy applied to the neck.
- The juice is used as a gargle for sore throat.
- Roots are boiled in milk and taken as a tonic.
- Flowers are considered to be good for diabetes.
- Fruits are pounded and applied on scorpion stings.