Vajradanti – वज्रदन्ती
It is an erect, armed shrub. It is branched and prickly.
The stem is ribbed, hard and sturdy
The leaves are simple, arranged opposite, elliptic in shape with a
sharp, pointed tip. The base is tapering towards the petiole and
the margin is entire.
The flowers are borne on axillary and terminal spike
inflorescence. The flowers are sessile, surrounded by bracts and
bracteoles, both spiny. The petals are yellow, fused with free
lobes, arranged in a four plus one manner. There are four
stamens, two long, fertile ones and two shorter ones inside the
tube formed by the petals.
The fruit is a brown, beaked capsule.
BOTANICAL NAME
Barleria prionitis L
FAMILY
Acanthaceae
FLOWERING
October – January
FRUITING
October – January
PROPAGATION
It can be propagated by seeds and vegetative cuttings
PLANT PART USED
Whole Plant
COMMON NAMES:
Porcupine Flower, Thorny Nail Dye;
Hindi: Jhinti, Parush, Pila Piyabansa, Pili Katsaraiya, Vajradanti;
Marathi: Kolita, Pivali Koranti;
Kannada: Haladi Gorate, Kurantaka, Madarangi Gida;
Konkani: Koranti;
Malayalam: Chemmulli, Manjakanakambaram;
Sanskrit: Artagalah, Bana, Dasi Kurantakah, Jhinti, Kakubha,
Kuravakah, Pitakurantakah, Sahacharah, Udyanapaki, Vajradanti;
Tamil: Korantam, Kutan, Mancat-Cemmulli;
Telugu: Gorantachettu,
USES
A mouthwash made from root tissue is used to relieve toothache
and treat bleeding gums.
It is used to harden teeth and gums.
Leaves are used to promote wound healing.
Leaf paste is applied to skin to treat ringworms and scabies.
It is used to treat gout.
Paste of leaves along with yogurt is applied to scalp to
strengthen hair.
It is used to reduce swelling since it has anti-inflammatory
properties.
It is used to purify the blood.
It is used as a diuretic and a tonic.
It has antimicrobial properties.
