Clerodendrum phlomidis

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Photographs by: Dr. Maulik Gadani

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  • Botanical Name : Clerodendrum phlomidis L. f.
  • The name Clerodendrum is from the Greek kleros, chance, and dendron, a tree, and alludes to a native legend that the plants possessed medicinal properties, which were a possible cure for certain ailments.

  • Synonyms : Clerodendrum multiflorum (Burm. F.) Kuntze; Volkameria multiflora Burm. f.
  • Common Name : Arni
  • Plant Family : Verbenaceae
  • Plant Form : Shrub
  • Occurrence (Sectors) : 1, 2, 10, 15, 26, 30
  • Occurrence (Special Areas) : Gujarat Forestry Research Foundation, Indroda Park, Ayurvedic Udyan, Van Chetana Kendra, Basan, Aranya Van

About Clerodendrum phlomidis Plant :

  • Habit : A large shrub.
  • Leaves : Leaves opposite, deltoid ovate, obtuse or acute, crenate, dentate, hairy below, wavy.
  • Inflorescence : Axillary cymes.
  • Flower :
    • Flowers in small, dichotomous axillary cymes forming a rounded terminal panicle, fragrant, bracts small, leafy lanceolate.
    • Calyx 5-lobed, not enlarged in fruit, lobes ovate veined.
    • Corolla white or pinkish, tube long, lobes 5, unequal, elliptic, obtuse, veined.
    • Stamens 4, didynamous, much exserted.
    • Ovary glabrous, style slender, stigma bilobed.
  • Fruit : Drupe obovoid, 4-lobed with one pyrene in each lobe.
  • Flowering and Fruiting Time : August-February
  • Significance :
    • Commonly planted in the gardens for making hedges.
    • The roots are aromatic and astringent.
    • They are used in gonorrhea.