Algae

The word algae represent a large group of different organisms from different phylogenetic groups, representing many taxonomic divisions. In general algae can be referred to as plant-like organisms that are usually photosynthetic and aquatic, but do not have true roots, stems, leaves, vascular tissue and have simple reproductive structures. They are distributed worldwide in the sea, in freshwater and in wastewater. Most are microscopic, but some are quite large, e.g. some marine seaweeds that can exceed 50 m in length.




The unicellular forms are known as microalgae where as the multicellular forms comprise macroalgae.

Chlorella sppMicroalgae comprise a vast group of photosynthetic, heterotrophic organisms which have an extraordinary potential for cultivation as energy crops. They can be cultivated under difficult agro-climatic conditions and are able to produce a wide range of commercially interesting byproducts such as fats, oils, sugars and functional bioactive compounds.

Ulva lacutaSeaweed is a loose colloquial term encompassing macroscopic, multicellular, benthic marine algae. The term includes some members of the red, brown and green algae. They are photosynthetic, like plants, and "simple" because they lack the many distinct organs found in land plants. For that reason they are currently excluded from being considered plants.

The algae have chlorophyll and can manufacture their own food through the process of photosynthesis. Almost all the algae are eukaryotes and conduct photosynthesis within membrane bound structure called chloroplasts. Cyanobacteria are organisms traditionally included among the algae, but they have a prokaryotic cell structure.

Flower Plants of India

The exotic and natural beauty of the flower pants has always affected the travellers and tourists across the world. There are around 15,000 flowering plant species in India. Lotus is the National Flower of India. The North -East -India has the profuse growth of orchids and marigold plants. Spring and summer are the best time to visit India as flowers are in full boom during these seasons to welcome the visitors with the burst of colours. Most of the flowers of India are used for several purposes such as for decoration, for medical purposes etc. The scented flower plants of India add charm to the natural beauty of the country. Bougainvillea, Rose, Jamine, Orchid, and Lotus are some of the popular flowering plants of India.

                                                                             Lotus

Of all the spectacular Flowering plants found in India, Lotus is the one that eloquently conjures up the spirit of typically religious India. Lotus is the National Flower of India. It is the aquatic plant with broad floating leaves and beautiful pinkish flower

                                                                           Rose


The scented smell and beautiful petals of Rose plant give it a complete distinctive appearance. There are more than 120 species of rose plant all over the world. Rose plants are generally used for beautifying the gardens and walkways

                                                                          Marigold


Among all the major plants of India, Marigold is the most identical. The Marigold Flower holds the great religious significance. The Marigold flower is offered to God and Goddess in India. It is also used for making garlands.

                                                                              Jasmine



Jasmine is a evergreen semi vining shrub. In India the Jasmine plant is related to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Jasmine plant is mostly propagated in summer season through the softwood cuttings, semi hard wood cuttings and through simple layering

                                                                       Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea is a popular woody scandent shrub. It is popularly known as the paper flower. Bougainvillea is widely grown in the Eravikulam National Park in India. Bougainvillea spinosa is the another popular specie of Bougainvillea found in India

                                                                         Orchids


Orchids are one of the prominent plant species that cover whole of north-east India. Roots of Orchids are edible and are even cooked. Dancing ladies, dancing dolls, Butterflies orchids are some of the popular names of the Orchids

Holostemma Creeper

Common name: Holostemma Creeper • Hindi: Chhirvel • Marathi: Dudruli, Shidodi • Tamil: Palay kirai • Malayalam: Ada kodien • Telugu: Palagurugu • Sanskrit: Jivanti, Arkapushpi


Botanical name: Holostemma ada-kodien Family: Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed family)

Synonyms: Holostemma annulare

Holostemma Creeper is a handsome, extensive, laticiferous, twining shrub with large conspicuous flowers. The bark is deeply cracked. The leaves are ovate to heart-shaped, 5-12 × 2-8 cm, coriaceous, acute, smooth above, and finely pubescent. The flowers are greenish-yellow in color, purplish crimson inside, in lateral cymes. The petals are thick, typical of the milkweed family. Flowers are very fragrant. The central crown is edible. The fruits follicles sub-woody, 6-9 cm long, tapering and green. The roots are pretty long up to a meter or more in length, thick, cylindrical and irregularly twisted. It grows over hedges and in open forests especially on the lower slopes of hills. But its occurance has diminished very much within this range of distribution and hence it is considered endangered. Flowering: April-September.

Medicinal uses: Mainly the roots and the whole plant are used for medicinal purposes. Externally the paste of its leaves and roots alleviate oedema due to vitiation of pitta dosa. The herb is beneficial for external use in various skin diseases, wounds and inflammation of the skin.

Green Milkweed Creeper

Common name: Green Milkweed Creeper • Marathi: शॆंडवेल Shendvel, जाती Jati, मारवेल Marvel • Tamil: Perum kahamugan kodi • Malayalam: വട്ടു വല്ലീ Vattu valli • Kannada: Ghara hoovu gida


Botanical name: Cosmostigma racemosum Family: Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed family)

Synonyms: Asclepias racemosa

Green Milkweed Creeper is a twining shrub with watery sap. Stem are hollow within, sparsely hairy when young. Oppositely arranged leaves 7.5-11 x 3.5-5 cm, are broadly ovate, sharp tipped, with a rounded or heart-shaped base. Leaf stalks are 1.5-3 cm long. Small greenish flowers occur incorymb-like or raceme-like; peduncle 1.5-2.5 cm long. Sepals are 1.5 mm long, 5 in number. Flowers flat, wheel-like, 8-10 mm across, with 5 petals and very short tube. Petals are 4 mm long, ovate, yellowish-green with reddish-brown speckles. Stamens 5; filaments united; anthers 2-celled; Carpels 2, free ; style short, apex 5-angled. Flowering: July.

Medicinal uses: The leaves of this woody climber are used in Indian traditional medicine to cure ulcerous sores.

Bird's Head Birthwort

Common name: Bird's Head Birthwort


Botanical name: Aristolochia ornithocephala Family: Aristolochiaceae (Birthwort family)

Bird's Head Birthwort is an climbing shrub with large alternate, long stalked leaves which are heart-shaped to kidney-shaped. Stipules are prominently leaf-like. The flowers are singly borne on stalks 8-10 inches long. The flower tube is divided into three parts. The lower pouch-like part contains the style and stamens. The tube is suddenly inflated in the upper quarter into the so-called bird's head. Two expansions are attached to the head which may be termed the beak and the lip. The lip is 6 x 4 inches. Bird's Head Birthwort is native to Brazil, but now cultivated widely. It flowers in the rainy season

Hophead (Medicinal Plant)

Common name: Hophead, Philippine Violet • Bengali: Vishellakarani


Botanical name: Barleria lupulina Family: Acanthaceae (Ruellia family)

Hophead is a popular medicinal plant distributed in mountains of southern and western India. Shrubbery plant with single dark green leaves, red-brown branches, and flowers that bloom in upright spikes. It is an erect shrub with smooth, hairless stems and leaves. Leaves narrowly obovate, spine-tipped, 3.5-9 cm long, 0.8-1.2 cm wide. Flowers occur in a terminal spike with overlapping bracts which are broadly ovate, 15 mm long, green with purple upper half. Flower consists of a 3m long corolla tube, opening into 1 cm long petals. Longer stamen filaments 2 cm long; shorter stamens fertile. Style is 3 cm long and smooth.

Medicinal uses: Traditional and therapeutic use is anti-inflammatory for insect bites, herpes simplex use by its fresh leaves, and roots for anti-inflammatory centipede bites

Kariyat (Medicinal Plants)

Common name: Kariyat, Creat • Hindi: Kirayat, Kalpanath • Manipuri: ৱুবতী Vubati • Marathi: Oli-kiryata, Kalpa • Tamil: நீலவெம்பு Nilavembu • Malayalam: Nelavepu, Kiriyattu • Telugu: Nilavembu • Kannada: Nelaberu • Bengali: কলমেঘ Kalmegh • Oriya: Bhuinimba • Konkani: Vhadlem Kiratyem • Urdu: Naine-havandi • Assamese: কলমেঘ Kalmegh • Gujarati: Kariyatu • Sanskrit: Kalmegha, Bhunimba • Mizo: Hnakhapui


Botanical name: Andrographis paniculata Family: Acanthaceae (Ruellia family)

Synonyms: Justicia paniculata



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Kariyat is an erect annual herb extremely bitter in taste in all parts of the plant. It grows erect to a height of 1-4 ft in moist shady places with smooth leaves and white flowers with rose-purple spots on the petals. Stem dark green, 0.3 - 1.0 m in height, 2-6 mm in diameter, quadrangular with longitudinal furrows and wings on the angles of the younger parts, slightly enlarged at the nodes; leaves glabrous, up to 8.0 cm long and 2.5 cm broad, lanceolate, pinnate; flowers small, in lax spreading axillary and terminal racemes or panicles; capsules linear-oblong, acute at both ends, 1.9 cm x 0.3 cm; seeds numerous, sub quadrate, yellowish brown.

Medicinal uses: Since ancient times, Kariyat is used as a wonder drug in traditional Siddha and Ayurvedic systems of medicine as well as in tribal medicine in India and some other countries for multiple clinical applications. The therapeutic value of Kalmegh is due to its mechanism of action which is perhaps by enzyme induction. The plant extract exhibits antityphoid and antifungal activities.