Shwet Chitrak – श्वेत चित्रक
It is a perennial herb or shrub with sometimes climbing habitat.
The leaves are thin, ovate, glabrous with often white waxy spots
on the lower surface.
The flowers are in axillary or terminal, elongated raceme
inflorescence. The rachis of the inflorescence is glandular and
sticky. The sepals of the flower are green, tubular, persistent,
prominently ribbed and densely covered with stalked glands
which make them sticky in nature. The petals are white, slender,
fused forming a tube with five lobes. The tip of each lobe is
pointed.
The fruit is an oblong capsule with persistent calyx present with
five furrows.
BOTANICAL NAME
Plumbago zeylanica L
FAMILY
Plumbaginaceae
FLOWERING
Throughout the year
FRUITING
Throughout the year
PROPAGATION
It can be propagated by seeds and stem cuttings
PLANT PART USED
Whole Plant
COMMON NAMES:
Chitrak, Plumbago, White Leadwort;
Hindi: Shwet Chitrak;
Kannada: Chitramula, Chitramulike, Agni;
Malayalam: Vellakoduveli;
Tamil: Chittiramoolam
USES
The plant is ornamental due to its fragrant showy white flowers.
The plant is also used to treat piles, leukoderma, arthritis,
inflammation and bronchitis.
The root and seeds are used medicinally as an antiseptic and
anti-parasitic.
It is used in treating intestinal troubles and dysentery.
It inhibits the growth of pancreatic cancer cells.
Root helps improve digestion and it stimulates the appetite.
It is a traditional remedy for improving gut health.
It helps in managing diabetes.
The leaves are used in cases of scabies, rheumatism and ring
worm.
