Polianthes tuberosa

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Photographs by: Dr. Maulik Gadani

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  • 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

About Polianthes tuberosa Plant :

  • 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.