Polianthes tuberosa

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Photographs by: Dr. Maulik Gadani

Botanical Name : Polianthes tuberosa L.
Common Name : Gulchadi, Mexican Tube Rose, Rajnigandha
Plant Family : Agavaceae
Plant Form : Herb
Occurrence (Sectors) : 1, 2, 4, 10, 22, 26-28, 30
Occurrence (Special Areas) : Indroda Park, Ayurvedic Udyan, Van Chetana Kendra

Habit : A small herb with small tunicated tuber-like corm.
Leaves : Mostly radical or on stem, linear, narrow, acute.
Inflorescence : Spike or raceme.
Flowers :
- Pure white, very sweet scented, bracteate.
- Bracts small, 2-flowered, bracteole 1 below each flower, perianth-tube long, bent near base, funnel-shaped, segments 6.
- Stamens 6, inserted in the tube, filaments short anther linear, long.
- Ovary inferior, 3-celled, ovules many, style short, stigmas 3.
Fruit : Capsule rarely formed.
Flowering and Fruiting Time : August - December
Significance :
- Cultivated for its sweet smelling.
- It is used for indoor decoration, sold in markets everywhere.
- Hindu girls are very fond of adorning their hairs by "Veni" of these flowers.