Dasapushpam
Dasapushpam denotes Ten Sacred Flowers of Kerala (from Sanskrit Dasa = Ten and Pushpam = Flower). These ten herbs are traditionally significant to Keralites, the people of Kerala. These herbs are found almost everywhere in Kerala, especially in the western ghats region.[1] They are used for decorative purposes, such as making the floral carpet Pookalam during festivals (like Onam).[2]
List of Dasapushpam or Ten Sacred Flowers
The ten plants are:[1]
- Evolvulus alsinoides [3] (Malayalam വിഷ്ണുക്രാന്തി - vishnukranthi)
- Cynodon dactylon (ml കറുക - karuka)
- Emilia sonchifolia (ml മുയൽ ചെവിയൻ - muyal cheviyan)
- Ipomoea sepiaria [4] (ml തിരുതാളി - thruthaali)
- Aerva lanata (ml ചെറുള - cheroola)
- Curculigo orchioides (ml നിലപ്പന - nilappana)
- Eclipta alba (ml കയ്യോന്നി - kayyonni)
- Cyanthillium cinereum [5] (ml പൂവാംകുറുന്നില - poovaamkurunnila)
- Biophytum sensitivum (ml മുക്കുറ്റി - mukkutti)
- Cardiospermum halicacabum (ml ഉഴിഞ്ഞ - uzhinja)
Although these names refer to the flowers, the medicinal value lies in the leaves in most cases.
Ipomoea sepiaria
Extracts of Ipomoea sepiaria leaves feature antimicrobial activity. The extract was tested on bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.[6]
External links
- Photo Gallery of Dasapushpam
- More details about Dasapushpam in a website on Ayurveda.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 K. Jiny Varghese, J. Anila, R. Nagalekshmi, S. Resiya and J. Sonu (2010). "Dasapushpam: The Traditional Uses And The Therapeutic Potential Of Ten Sacred Plants Of Kerala State In India". International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 1 (10): 50–59.
- ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/athappookalam-losing-traditional-verve/article173569.ece
- ↑ evolvulus alsinoides
- ↑ Ipomoea sepiaria
- ↑ Cyanthillium cinereum
- ↑ Antimicrobial activity of Ipolmoea sepiaria