Biology:Mahonia leschenaultii

From HandWiki
Short description: Species of plant in the Indian sub-continent

Mahonia leschenaultii
Mahonia Lescenaultii.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Berberidaceae
Genus: Mahonia
Species:
M. leschenaultii
Binomial name
Mahonia leschenaultii
(Wall. ex. Wight & Arn.) Anon.

Mahonia leschenaultii is a plant that belongs to the genus Mahonia. It is indigenous to the temperate and subtropical regions of the Indian sub-continent: Nepal, the Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh, Khasi Hills and the Nilgiri Mountains. In the Nilgiris, it is of religious and medicinal importance to the native Toda people, who call it Thovari.[1]

Description

Mahonia leschenaultii is a shrub (although occasionally it may grow into a tree) reaching no more than 6 metres (20 ft) high. Leaves are oblong and have glossy tops; they are positioned botanically opposite. Yellow petaled flowers are borne in two seasons: April through June, and September through November. Small 8 mm (0.31 in), one-seeded berries are borne about a month after flowering.[1]

Uses

The Toda people of Tamil Nadu use a paste made of the bark as a Traditional medicine remedy for women immediately after childbirth. The Toda also use a water extracted from the leaves to purify their temples after women have entered them, as women are forbidden from Toda temples.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rajan, Sheelu; Sethuraman, M (1992-07-01). "Mahonia leschenaultii—A Toda plant". Ancient Science of Life 12 (1–2): 242–4. PMID 22556593. 

Wikidata ☰ {{{from}}} entry