Saturday, 10 October 2026

Rauvolfia tetraphylla L.

Rauvolfia tetraphylla L.

raau-FO-feeah -- named in honour of Leonhard Rauwolf [↗], German physician, botanist, and traveller ... Dave's Botanary
tet-ruh-FIL-uh -- four-leaved ... Dave's Botanary
commonly known as: American serpentwood, be still tree, devil pepper, wild snakeroot • Bengali: বড় চন্দ্রিকা bara chandrika, গন্ধনকুলী gandhanakuli • Hindi: बड़ा चंद्रिका bara-chandrika • Kannada: ದೊಡ್ಡ ಚಂದ್ರಿಕೆ dodda chandrike, ನಾಲ್ಕೆಲೆ ಸರ್ಪಗಂಧ naalkele sarpagandha • Malayalam: കാട്ടുമൽപ്പൊരി kattumalppori, പാമ്പുംകൊല്ലി paambumkolli • Odia: ପାତାଳ ଗରୁଡ଼ patala garuda • Tamil: பாம்பு களாச் செடி paambu kalaach chedi • Telugu: పాపటాకు papataku • Tulu: ಸರ್ಪಗಂಧೊ sarpagandho

known for / parts made use of: roots, leaves, bark & latex, fruits/berries ... compiled from the web
botanical names: Rauvolfia tetraphylla L. ... homotypic synonyms: Rauvolfia canescens L. ... heterotypic synonyms: Rauvolfia heterophylla Roem. & Schult. • Rauvolfia hirsuta Jacq. ... and more at POWO, retrieved October 09, 2026
TAXONOMIC NOTE
Rauvolfia & Rauwolfia
While strict botanical taxonomy dictates that Rauvolfia (with a "v") is the only validly published genus name according to modern rules of nomenclature, Rauwolfia (with a "w") remains deeply embedded in commercial trade and medical literature. This creates an interesting parallel usage where the taxonomically correct spelling is often overshadowed by its unauthorized, "corrected" counterpart. Because early pharmaceutical research and the landmark discovery of reserpine were heavily documented under the "w" variant, scientific and medical journals continue to favour it, allowing an orthographic error to command a larger following than the officially recognized botanical name. ... compiled from the web.
Bibliography / etymology / notes
Links listed as references in the notes below, may not remain valid permanently. Portals / websites have a tendency to re-organize / revise their content, leading to change in URLs of pages in their site. Some sites may even close down at their own will. The bits about the languages of India mentioned below are merely some bare facts gathered from the internet; just enough to satisfy curiosity about "where" could the listed names be best prevalent in India. All English transliterated names to be taken sensu amplo.
~~~~~ ENGLISH ~~~~~
written and spoken widely, in most parts of India
American serpentwood, be still tree, devil pepper, wild snakeroot
~~~~~ BENGALI ~~~~~
written in: Bengali (বাংলা) ... spoken in: West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Tripura, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
বড় চন্দ্রিকা bara chandrika, গন্ধনকুলী gandhanakuli
The trail of Bengali names "Bara Chandrika" and "Gandhanakuli" reveals distinct etymological origins rooted in classical medical and scientific literature. When R. tetraphylla (synonym Rauvolfia canescens) was introduced and widely studied by researchers at institutions like the Calcutta Medical College and the School of Tropical Medicine, Calcutta in the mid-20th century as a reserpine substitute, researchers and local suppliers needed a clear distinction. Because tetraphylla grows into a noticeably larger, taller, much-branched woody shrub (up to 4 meters) compared to the small, herbaceous serpentina, it was officially designated as "Bara Chand" or "Bara Chandrika" in localized pharmacy and economic botany manuals. ... compiled from the web.
~~~~~ HINDI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (हिन्दी) ... spoken in: Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand
बड़ा चंद्रिका bara-chandrika
~~~~~ KANNADA ~~~~~
written in: Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ) ... spoken in: Karnataka
ದೊಡ್ಡ ಚಂದ್ರಿಕೆ dodda chandrike
ನಾಲ್ಕೆಲೆ ಸರ್ಪಗಂಧ naalkele sarpagandha
~~~~~ MALAYALAM ~~~~~
written in: Malayalam (മലയാളം) ... spoken in: Kerala, Lakshadweep
കാട്ടുമൽപ്പൊരി kattumalppori
പാമ്പുംകൊല്ലി paambumkolli
~~~~~ ODIA ~~~~~
written in: Odia (ଓଡ଼ିଆ) ... spoken in: Odisha, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
ପାତାଳ ଗରୁଡ଼ patala garuda
~~~~~ TAMIL ~~~~~
written in: Tamil (தமிழ்) ... spoken in: Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
பாம்பு களாச் செடி paambu kalaach chedi
~~~~~ TELUGU ~~~~~
written in: Telugu ( తెలుగు) ... spoken in: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry
పాపటాకు papataku
  • Flora Andhrika - Plant Wealth of Andhra Pradesh, India ... (accessed: October 09, 2026)
~~~~~ TULU ~~~~~
written in: Tigalari (Tulu) was used for writing Vedic texts in Sanskrit, Kannada (ತುಳು), Malayalam (തുളു) ... spoken in: Karnataka, north Kerala
ಸರ್ಪಗಂಧೊ sarpagandho
~~~~~ KNOWN DISTRIBUTION in INDIA ~~~~~
cultivated in gardens from Uttar Pradesh to West Bengal southwards to Tamil Nadu and Kerala; it is naturalised in many localities and is a common weed in warm and moist habitats
~~~~~ Created on: 17:20 09-10-2026 ¦ Last updated: 11:55 10-10-2026 (DD-MM-YYYY) ~~~~~
Apocynaceae Asclepiadaceae Asclepiadoideae perennial medicinal shrub "Rauvolfia tetraphylla" "Rauvolfia canescens" "Rauvolfia heterophylla" "Rauvolfia hirsuta" "American serpentwood" "be still tree" "devil pepper" "wild snakeroot"
.
at No comments:

Tuesday, 6 October 2026

Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz

Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz

raau-FO-feeah -- named in honour of Leonhard Rauwolf [↗], German physician, botanist, and traveller ... Dave's Botanary
ser-pen-TEE-nuh -- referring to a snake ... Dave's Botanary
commonly known as: Indian snakeroot, insanity herb • Ahom: সৰ্পগন্ধা sarpagandha • Assamese: আৰাচন তিতা arachon-tita, চান্দৰ তিতা chandor tita, চন্দ্ৰমূল chondromul, গুমুনি gumuni, সৰ্পগন্ধা xorpogondha • Bengali: চন্দ্রা chandra, কুলেন kulein, সর্পগন্ধা sarpagandha • Birhor: दारु जिकि पोटा daru jiki pota • Bodo: चान्दो गुखा chando gukha • Bru: chandoma • Chepang: chyarangro • Dimasa: अरगमगजाओ argamgajao • Dogri: सप्पगंधी sappa-gandhi • Garo: dougrikme • Gujarati: નોળવેલ મોટી nolvel moti, સર્પગંધા sarpagandha • Hajong: চান্দো তিতা chando tita • Haryanvi: सर्पगंधा sarpagandha • Hindi: चंद्रभागा chandrabhaga, छोटा चांद chhota-chand, नाकुली nakuli, नाकुलीकंद nakulikanda, रास्ना rasna, सर्पगंधा sarpagandha • Hmar: thingzungkha • Kachari: बिर्शी-वाथी birshi-wathi • Kannada: ಚಂದ್ರಿಕೆ chandrike, ಗರುಡಪಾತಾಳ garudapaathaalaa, ಹಡಕಿ hadaki, ಸರ್ಪಗಂಧ sarpagandha, ಶಿವನಾಭಿ shivanaabhi, ಸೂತ್ರನಾಭಿ sutranaabhi • Karbi: jowansu, methan krokdi • Khasi: todong-pait-parao • Kol: छेडाबाग chhedabag • Konkani: अडकी adaki, अटकी atki, मोटवी आलूस motvi alus, सर्पगंधा sarpagandha • Kuki: karti • Malayalam: അമൽപ്പൊരി amalpori, ചുവന്നവിൽപുരി chuvannavilpuri, സർപ്പഗന്ധി sarpagandhi, താളൂന്നി thalunni, വണ്ടുവാഴ vanduvazha • Manipuri: ꯆꯟꯗ꯭ꯔꯚꯥꯒꯥ chandrabhaga • Marathi: हडकी hadaki, नाकुली nakuli, सर्पगंधा sarpagandha • Mech: खारु-खु kharu-khu • Mishing: আৰাচোৰি তিতা arachori tita • Mizo: rullturzung, thi-sen-sang-damdawi, thingzungkha • Mundari: सुपुरोलिद supurolid • Nepali: चाँद मरुवा chaand maruwaa, सर्पगन्धा sarpagandhaa • Nyishi: sarpagandha • Odia: ଚନ୍ଦ୍ରିକା chandrika, ଗନ୍ଧରାସ୍ନା gandharasna, ମାର୍ଜାରୀ marjari, ନାକୁଳୀ nakuli, ପାତାଳ ଗରୁଡ଼ patala garuda, ସହଦେବା sahadeba, ସର୍ପଗନ୍ଧା sarpagandha, ସୁଗନ୍ଧା sugandha • Pahari: सर्पगंधा sarpagandha • Punjabi: ਸਰਪਗੰਧਾ sarpagandha • Rabha: চান্দো তিতা chando tita, টুকুৰ-চালিমাই tukur-salimai • Rajasthani: सर्पगन्धा sarpagandha • Rangpuri: চান্দো তিতা chando tita • Sanskrit: चन्द्रिका chandrika, नाकुली nakuli, पातालगरुडी patalagarudi, सर्पगन्धा sarpagandha • Santali: ᱪᱟᱱᱫᱚ ᱜᱚᱫ chandu god, ᱯᱟᱛᱟᱞ ᱜᱟᱹᱨᱩᱲ patal garur • Tamil: சோவன்னமில்பொரி covannamilpori, சூத்திரநாபி cuttiranapi • Telugu: దుంప రసాయన dumpa rasna, కొరి వేరు kori veru, పాతాళ గంధి pathala gandhi, పాతాళ గని pathala gani, పాతాళ గరుడ pathala garuda, సర్ప గంధి sarpagandhi • Tharu: बरुवा baruwa • Tibetan: ན་གུ་ལ na gu la • Tulu: ಸರ್ಪಗಂಧೊ sarpagandho • Urdu: چھوٹا چاند chhota chand, راسنا rasna, سرپگندھا sarp-gandha, ناکلي nakuli

known for / parts made use of: the roots and root bark, the leaves, the rhizomes and stems ... compiled from the web
botanical names: Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz ... homotypic synonyms: Ophioxylon serpentinum L. ... and more at POWO, retrieved October 03, 2026
TAXONOMIC NOTE
Rauvolfia & Rauwolfia
While strict botanical taxonomy dictates that Rauvolfia (with a "v") is the only validly published genus name according to modern rules of nomenclature, Rauwolfia (with a "w") remains deeply embedded in commercial trade and medical literature. This creates an interesting parallel usage where the taxonomically correct spelling is often overshadowed by its unauthorized, "corrected" counterpart. Because early pharmaceutical research and the landmark discovery of reserpine were heavily documented under the "w" variant, scientific and medical journals continue to favour it, allowing an orthographic error to command a larger following than the officially recognized botanical name. ... compiled from the web.
Bibliography / etymology / notes
Links listed as references in the notes below, may not remain valid permanently. Portals / websites have a tendency to re-organize / revise their content, leading to change in URLs of pages in their site. Some sites may even close down at their own will. The bits about the languages of India mentioned below are merely some bare facts gathered from the internet; just enough to satisfy curiosity about "where" could the listed names be best prevalent in India. All English transliterated names to be taken sensu amplo.
~~~~~ ENGLISH ~~~~~
written and spoken widely, in most parts of India
Indian snakeroot, insanity herb
~~~~~ AHOM ~~~~~
written in: Ahom, Latin, Assamese ... mainly used by priests and scholars for religious and educational purposes; spoken in: erstwhile Ahom kingdom (some part in present day Assam) ... other names for this language: Tai-Ahom
সৰ্পগন্ধা sarpagandha
~~~~~ ASSAMESE ~~~~~
written in: Assamese (অসমীয়া) ... spoken in: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya
আৰাচন তিতা arachon-tita
  • U N Kanjilal, P C Kanjilal, A Das, R N De - Flora of Assam - Vol III
চান্দৰ তিতা chandor tita
  • Many thanks to late Brahmananda Patiri for providing the Assamese name of this plant ... facebook
চন্দ্ৰমূল chondromul
  • Many thanks to Monoj Nath for help with this name ... facebook
গুমুনি gumuni
  • Candrakānta abhidhāna : Asamiyi sabdara butpatti aru udaharanere Asamiya-Ingraji dui bhashara artha thaka abhidhana. 2nd ed. Guwahati : Guwahati Bisbabidyalaya, 1962.
সৰ্পগন্ধা xorpogondha
  • XOBDO - Your gateway to multilingual knowledge and resources ... (accessed: October 03, 2026)
~~~~~ BENGALI ~~~~~
written in: Bengali (বাংলা) ... spoken in: West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Tripura, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
চন্দ্রা chandra
কুলেন kulein
সর্পগন্ধা sarpagandha
~~~~~ BIRHOR ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (बिरहोर) ... spoken in: Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha, Maharastra, Bihar ... spoken by: the Birhor or Birhul people
दारु जिकि पोटा daru jiki pota
  • Anderson, G.D.S, & Jora, B., Lakra, S., Birhor, A., Birhor, M. Gomango, O., Horo, L. 2026. Birhor Living Dictionary. Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages. ... (accessed: October 05, 2026)
~~~~~ BODO ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari or Latin ... spoken in: Assam ... other names for this language: Boro
चान्दो गुखा chando gukha
~~~~~ BRU ~~~~~
written in: Roman, Bengali, Anji (indigenous script, their sacred heritage) ... spoken in: Tripura, Mizoram and Assam ... other names for this language: Kau Bru / Kaubru / Riang ... spoken by: Reang / Riang / Bru
chandoma
  • List of Ethno-medicinal plants in Mizoram state with uses - Ministry of Ayush ... (downloaded: Feb 9, 2022)
~~~~~ CHEPANG ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (च्योःबाङ्) ... spoken in: Indo-Nepal Terai (Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh), Eastern Himalayas (Assam, Sikkim, West Bengal) ... spoken by: the Chepang (or Chewang, Chewang, Chybang, Kachharge, Praja, Tsepang) people
chyarangro
~~~~~ DIMASA ~~~~~
written in: Bengali-Assamese, Devanagari, Latin ... spoken in: Assam, Nagaland ... other names for this language: Hill Kachari ... spoken by: Dimasa people
अरगमगजाओ argamgajao
~~~~~ DOGRI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (डोगरी) ... spoken in: Jammu & Kashmir ... spoken by the Dogras
सप्पगंधी sappa-gandhi
  • Many thanks to OM Prakash Vidyarthi for help with this name ... facebook
~~~~~ GARO ~~~~~
written in: Roman, Bengali-Assamese, A-Chik Tok'birim ... spoken in: Meghalaya, Assam
dougrikme
~~~~~ GUJARATI ~~~~~
written in: Gujarati (ગુજરાતી) ... spoken in: Gujarat, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu
નોળવેલ મોટી nolvel moti, સર્પગંધા sarpagandha
~~~~~ HAJONG ~~~~~
written in: Bengali-Assamese (হাজং), Latin ... spoken in: Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and West Bengal
চান্দো তিতা chando tita
~~~~~ HARYANVI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (हरियाणवी or हरयाणवी) ... spoken in: Haryana, Delhi
सर्पगंधा sarpagandha
  • Haryana Forest Flora - A Comprehensive Database of Ligneous Plants of Haryana (India) ... (accessed: October 05, 2026)
~~~~~ HINDI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (हिन्दी) ... spoken in: Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand
चंद्रभागा chandrabhaga, नाकुलीकंद nakulikanda
छोटा चांद chhota-chand, सर्पगंधा sarpagandha
नाकुली nakuli, रास्ना rasana
~~~~~ HMAR ~~~~~
written in: Roman (Hmar Hawrawp) ... spoken in: Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, Tripura, and Meghalaya
thingzungkha
~~~~~ KACHARI ~~~~~
written in: Bengali-Assamese, Devanagari, Latin ... spoken in: Assam, Nagaland ... other names for this language: Cachari, Plains Kachari (Boro or Bara) and Hill Kachari (Dimasa)
बिर्शी-वाथी birshi-wathi
  • U N Kanjilal, P C Kanjilal, A Das, R N De - Flora of Assam - Vol III
~~~~~ KANNADA ~~~~~
written in: Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ) ... spoken in: Karnataka
ಚಂದ್ರಿಕೆ chandrike (or ಚಂದ್ರಕ chandraka), ಶಿವನಾಭಿ shivanaabhi, ಸೂತ್ರನಾಭಿ sutranaabhi
ಗರುಡಪಾತಾಳ garudapaathaalaa (or ಗರುಡಪಾತಾಳಿ garudapaathaali)
ಹಡಕಿ hadaki
ಸರ್ಪಗಂಧ sarpagandha (or ಸರ್ಪಗಂಧಿ sarpagandhi)
~~~~~ KARBI ~~~~~
written in: Roman ... spoken in: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland ... other names for this language: Mikir or Arleng
jowansu
  • U N Kanjilal, P C Kanjilal, A Das, R N De - Flora of Assam - Vol III
methan krokdi
~~~~~ KHASI ~~~~~
written in: Latin (Khasi alphabet), Bengali-Assamese ... spoken in: Meghalaya, Assam
todong-pait-parao
  • U N Kanjilal, P C Kanjilal, A Das, R N De - Flora of Assam - Vol III
~~~~~ KOL ~~~~~
written in: Warang Chiti (or Barang Kshiti, Varang Kshiti), Devanagari ... spoken in: Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal ... spoken by: Kol people
छेडाबाग chhedabag
  • Das, T. K. (2023, January). "Handbook of Medicinal Plants of Jharkhand" Regional-cum-Facilitation Centre, Eastern Region (RCFC-ER), National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB)
~~~~~ KONKANI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (कोंकणी) / Kannada (ಕೊಂಕಣಿ) / Malayalam (കൊങ്കണി) / Perso-Arabic (کونکنی) / Romi (Konknni) ... spoken in: Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat
अडकी adaki (or हडकी hadaki)
  • Glimpses of Biodiversity in Panaji - Goa State Biodiversity Board | Corporation of City of Panaji
  • V D Vartak (1966) - Enumeration of plants from Gomantak India with a note on botanical excursions to the Castlerock area :: Chapter 5 :: Shodhganga :: a reservoir of Indian theses @ INFLIBNET
अटकी atki, मोटवी आलूस motvi alus (or मोटवी आलूश motvi alush)
सर्पगंधा sarpagandha
  • Glimpses of Biodiversity in Panaji - Goa State Biodiversity Board | Corporation of City of Panaji
~~~~~ KUKI ~~~~~
written in: Roman ... spoken in: Manipur, Assam, Nagaland ... other names for this language:Thado, Thado-Pao, Thado-Ubiphei, Thaadou Kuki
karti
  • U N Kanjilal, P C Kanjilal, A Das, R N De - Flora of Assam - Vol III
~~~~~ MALAYALAM ~~~~~
written in: Malayalam (മലയാളം) ... spoken in: Kerala, Lakshadweep
അമൽപ്പൊരി amalpori
ചുവന്നവിൽപുരി chuvannavilpuri
സർപ്പഗന്ധി sarpagandhi
താളൂന്നി thalunni
വണ്ടുവാഴ vanduvazha
~~~~~ MANIPURI ~~~~~
written in: Meiteilon (ꯃꯩꯇꯩꯂꯣꯟ), Bengali-Assamese ... spoken in: Manipur ... other names for this language: Meetei
ꯆꯟꯗ꯭ꯔꯚꯥꯒꯥ chandrabhaga
  • Flowers of India ... (accessed: October 03, 2026)
  • Singh S. Sukumar. The Economic Plants of Manipur and Their Uses, Manipur, 2006, 2009.
~~~~~ MARATHI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (मराठी) ... spoken in: Maharashtra, Karnataka
हडकी hadaki, सर्पगंधा sarpagandha
नाकुली nakuli
  • for Ophioxylon serpentinum L. ... Molesworth, J. T. (James Thomas). A dictionary, Marathi and English. 2d ed., rev. and enl. Bombay: Printed for government at the Bombay Education Society's press, 1857.
~~~~~ MECH ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari, Roman ... spoken by: Mech people (Bodos of north West Bengal)
खारु-खु kharu-khu
  • U N Kanjilal, P C Kanjilal, A Das, R N De - Flora of Assam - Vol III
~~~~~ MISHING ~~~~~
written in: Latin, Assamese, Devanagari ... spoken in: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh ... other names for this language: Mising, Plains Miri
আৰাচোৰি তিতা arachori tita
~~~~~ MIZO ~~~~~
written in: Latin, Bengali-Assamese ... spoken in: Mizoram ... other names for this language: Lushai, Duhlian
rullturzung
thi-sen-sang-damdawi
thingzungkha
~~~~~ MUNDARI ~~~~~
written in: Mundari Bani, Odia, Devanagari, Bengali, Latin ... spoken in: Jharkhand, Odisha
सुपुरोलिद supurolid
~~~~~ NEPALI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (नेपाली) ... spoken in: Nepal, West Bengal, Assam, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir
चाँद मरुवा chaand maruwaa, सर्पगन्धा sarpagandhaa
~~~~~ NYISHI ~~~~~
written in: Latin ... spoken in: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam ... spoken by the Daffla (or Dafla) tribe, now known as Nyishi tribe ... other names for this language: Nishi, Nisi, Nishang, Nissi, Nyising, Leil, Aya, Akang, Bangni-Bangru, Solung
sarpagandha
~~~~~ ODIA ~~~~~
written in: Odia (ଓଡ଼ିଆ) ... spoken in: Odisha, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
ଚନ୍ଦ୍ରିକା chandrika
ପାତାଳ ଗରୁଡ଼ patala garuda
ଗନ୍ଧରାସ୍ନା gandharasna, ମାର୍ଜାରୀ marjari, ନାକୁଳୀ nakuli, ସହଦେବା sahadeba, ସୁଗନ୍ଧା sugandha
ସର୍ପଗନ୍ଧା sarpagandha
~~~~~ PAHARI (or PAHADI) ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (पहाड़ी), Perso-Arabic (پہاڑی) ... variety of languages, dialects and language groups, spoken in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand
सर्पगंधा sarpagandha
~~~~~ PUNJABI ~~~~~
written in: Gurmukhi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ) ... spoken in: Punjab
ਸਰਪਗੰਧਾ sarpagandha
  • Ajaypal Singh and Renuka Rani (2018). Medicinal Herbs of Punjab (India). Biological Forum – An International Journal, 10(2): 10-27(2018). ... (downloaded: Mar 16, 2025)
~~~~~ RABHA ~~~~~
written in: Assamese (ৰাভা), Bengali, English ... spoken in: Assam, Nagaland, West Bengal, Meghalaya
চান্দো তিতা chando tita, টুকুৰ-চালিমাই tukur-salimai
~~~~~ RAJASTHANI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (राजस्थानी) ... spoken in: Rajasthan
सर्पगन्धा sarpagandha
~~~~~ RANGPURI ~~~~~
written in: Bengali-Assamese (রংপুরী, কোচ-ৰাজবংশী, দেশী), Devanagari (रंगपुरी) ... spoken in: Bangladesh, north Bengal, lower Assam ... other names for this language: Anchalit, Bahe, Deshi, Koch-Rajbongshi
চান্দো তিতা chando tita
~~~~~ SANSKRIT ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (संस्कृतम्) ... used all over India by priests and scholars
चन्द्रिका chandrika
  • Learn Sanskrit - पठत संस्कृतम् - शब्दकोशः
नाकुली nakuli, पातालगरुडी patalagarudi, सर्पगन्धा sarpagandha
  • Learn Sanskrit - पठत संस्कृतम् - शब्दकोशः
~~~~~ SANTALI ~~~~~
written in: Ol Chiki (ᱥᱟᱱᱛᱟᱲᱤ), Bengali (সাঁওতালী), Odia (ସାନ୍ତାଳୀ), Devanagari (सान्ताली), Roman ... spoken in: Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha
ᱪᱟᱱᱫᱚ ᱜᱚᱫ chandu god
  • Anderson, G.D.S, & Jora, B., Lakra, S., Birhor, A., Birhor, M. Gomango, O., Horo, L. 2026. Birhor Living Dictionary. Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages. ... (accessed: October 05, 2026)
ᱯᱟᱛᱟᱞ ᱜᱟᱹᱨᱩᱲ patal garur
~~~~~ TAMIL ~~~~~
written in: Tamil (தமிழ்) ... spoken in: Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
சோவன்னமில்பொரி covannamilpori, சூத்திரநாபி cuttiranapi
  • University of Madras. Tamil lexicon. [Madras], University of Madras, 1924-1936.
~~~~~ TELUGU ~~~~~
written in: Telugu ( తెలుగు) ... spoken in: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry
దుంప రసాయన dumpa rasna, కొరి వేరు kori veru, పాతాళ గంధి pathala gandhi, పాతాళ గని pathala gani, పాతాళ గరుడ pathala garuda, సర్ప గంధి sarpagandhi
~~~~~ THARU ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (थारु) ... spoken in: Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar ... spoken by: the Tharu community ... pronounced in Hindi as: Tharuva (Hindi: थरुवा)
बरुवा baruwa
~~~~~ TIBETAN ~~~~~
written in: Tibetan ... spoken in: Tibet, Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bhutan
ན་གུ་ལ na gu la
~~~~~ TULU ~~~~~
written in: Tigalari (Tulu) was used for writing Vedic texts in Sanskrit, Kannada (ತುಳು), Malayalam (തുളു) ... spoken in: Karnataka, north Kerala
ಸರ್ಪಗಂಧೊ sarpagandho
~~~~~ URDU ~~~~~
written in: Urdu (اردو) ... spoken in: Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka
چھوٹا چاند chhota chand, راسنا rasana, سرپگندھا sarp-gandha, ناکلي nakuli
~~~~~ KNOWN DISTRIBUTION in INDIA ~~~~~
Andaman islands, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Lakshadweep islands, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
~~~~~ Created on: 13:13 03-10-2026 ¦ Last updated: 21:46 06-10-2026 (DD-MM-YYYY) ~~~~~
Apocynaceae perennial medicinal shrub "Rauvolfia serpentina" "Rauwolfia serpentina" "Ophioxylon serpentinum" "Indian snakeroot" "insanity herb"
.
at No comments:

Friday, 2 October 2026

Pentatropis nivalis (J.F.Gmel.) D.V.Field & J.R.I.Wood

Pentatropis nivalis (J.F.Gmel.) D.V.Field & J.R.I.Wood

pen-tuh-TROH-pis -- Greek: penta (five); tropis (ship's keel); refers to the distinctive structure of the flower's inner centre ... compiled from the web
nih-VAY-lis or nih-VAH-lis -- Latin: snowy, or growing near snow; referring to the white color, pale, frost-like coloration of its flowers ... compiled from the web
commonly known as: white milkweed • Gujarati: ધોળી કાવલી dholi kavali, ધોળી પીલુડી dholi piludi, કાકતુંડી kaaktundi • Haryanvi: आकारी बेल aakari bel, धोदहियल dhodhial • Hindi: आकरी बेल aakari bel • Kachchhi: ધોધીઆલ dhodhiyal, ધોધવલ dhodhval • Marathi: अंबरवेल ambervel, परपरम parparam, शिंग्रोटा shingrota • Punjabi: ਵਣ ਵੇਰੀ wan weri • Rajasthani: आकरी बेल aakari bel • Sanskrit: काकनासिका kakanasika • Tamil: ஈர்கொல்லிக் கொடி irkollik-kodi, உப்பிலாங்கொடி uppilankodi

known for / parts made use of: the leaves, the roots & whole plant, the fruits (pods) & flowers ... compiled from the web.
botanical names: Pentatropis nivalis (J.F.Gmel.) D.V.Field & J.R.I.Wood ... homotypic synonyms: Asclepias nivalis J.F.Gmel. ... heterotypic synonyms: Oxystelma caudatum Buch.-Ham. ex Wall. • Pentatropis cynanchoides R.Br. ex N.E.Br. ... and more at POWO, retrieved October 02, 2026
(●) HISTORICAL NOMENCLATURAL OVERLAP
Thereby Shared Vernacular Names
In classic colonial-era Floras as well as lexicons, Pentatropis nivalis and Pentatropis capensis were heavily conflated. Botanists frequently lumped both species together under older synonyms like Pentatropis spiralis or Pentatropis microphylla.
Because both plants share a near-identical vegetative appearance (slender twining habit, fleshy opposite leaves, and milky sap), local communities naturally used these regional names interchangeably for both climbers. While modern taxonomy segregates the two species based on microscopic floral keys (such as the shape of the corona lobes and petal tails), their vernacular names remain historically shared across their overlapping habitats. ... compiled from the web.
As such, the segregation of vernacular names [on this page] has been done based on the species' geographic distribution as detailed in regional Floras, and the descriptive clues accompanying the vernacular names in classical lexicons.
Bibliography / etymology / notes
Links listed as references in the notes below, may not remain valid permanently. Portals / websites have a tendency to re-organize / revise their content, leading to change in URLs of pages in their site. Some sites may even close down at their own will. The bits about the languages of India mentioned below are merely some bare facts gathered from the internet; just enough to satisfy curiosity about "where" could the listed names be best prevalent in India. All English transliterated names to be taken sensu amplo.
~~~~~ ENGLISH ~~~~~
written and spoken widely, in most parts of India
white milkweed
~~~~~ GUJARATI ~~~~~
written in: Gujarati (ગુજરાતી) ... spoken in: Gujarat, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu
ધોળી કાવલી dholi kavali, ધોળી પીલુડી dholi piludi, કાકતુંડી kaaktundi
~~~~~ HARYANVI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (हरियाणवी or हरयाणवी) ... spoken in: Haryana, Delhi
आकारी बेल aakari bel, धोदहियल dhodhial
  • for Blyttia spiralis (Forssk.) D.V.Field & J.R.I.Wood ... Haryana Forest Flora - A Comprehensive Database of Ligneous Plants of Haryana (India) ... (accessed: October 02, 2026)
In some regional digital assets, such as the Haryana Forest Flora database, these local names are indexed under the misapplied name Blyttia spiralis. However, because true Blyttia species are erect African shrubs, and the database's physical description explicitly delineates a beaked, corky climber native to northern India, these vernacular terms are securely mapped here to Pentatropis nivalis. ... compiled from the web.
~~~~~ HINDI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (हिन्दी) ... spoken in: Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand
आकरी बेल aakari bel
~~~~~ KACHCHHI ~~~~~
written in: Gujarati (કચ્છી), Sindhi (ڪڇّي) ... spoken in: Kutch region of Gujarat
ધોધીઆલ dhodhiyal, ધોધવલ dhodhval
  • (●) for Pentatropis microphylla (Roth) Wight & Arn. ... કચ્છ સ્વસ્થાન ની વનસ્પતિઓ ઠાકર જયકૃષ્ણ ઇન્દ્રજી 1926 [PLANTS OF CUTCH AND THEIR UTILITY by THAKAR, JAIKRISHNA INDRAJI, 1926]
  • (●) for Pentatropis spiralis (Forssk.) Decne. ... Patel, Yatin & Patel, Rohitkumar & Pankaj, Joshi & Dabgar, Yogesh. (2011). Study of the Angiospermic flora of Kachchh district, Gujarat, India. Life Sciences Leaflets. 19. 739-768. ... (downloaded: Feb 9, 2022)
~~~~~ MARATHI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (मराठी) ... spoken in: Maharashtra, Karnataka
अंबरवेल ambervel
परपरम parparam, शिंग्रोटा shingrota
~~~~~ PUNJABI ~~~~~
written in: Gurmukhi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ) ... spoken in: Punjab
ਵਣ ਵੇਰੀ wan weri
~~~~~ RAJASTHANI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (राजस्थानी) ... spoken in: Rajasthan
आकरी बेल aakari bel
~~~~~ SANSKRIT ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (संस्कृतम्) ... used all over India by priests and scholars
काकनासिका kakanasika
~~~~~ TAMIL ~~~~~
written in: Tamil (தமிழ்) ... spoken in: Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
ஈர்கொல்லிக் கொடி irkollik-kodi
உப்பிலாங்கொடி uppilankodi
  • (●) for Pentatropis microphylla (Roth) Wight & Arn. ... University of Madras. Tamil lexicon. [Madras], University of Madras, 1924-1936.
~~~~~ KNOWN DISTRIBUTION in INDIA ~~~~~
Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh
~~~~~ Created on: 14:03 02-10-2026 ¦ Last updated: 08:47 03-10-2026 (DD-MM-YYYY) ~~~~~
Apocynaceae Asclepiadoideae Asclepiadaceae perennial climber "mangrove associate" "Pentatropis nivalis" "Asclepias nivalis" "Oxystelma caudatum" "Pentatropis cynanchoides" "white milkweed"
.
at No comments:

Thursday, 1 October 2026

Parsonsia alboflavescens (Dennst.) Mabb.

Parsonsia alboflavescens (Dennst.) Mabb.

par-SONS-ee-uh -- named for James Parsons [↗], London physician and botanical author ... Dave's Botanary
al-bo-flah-VES-senz -- whitish-yellow, or becoming yellowish-white ... compiled from the web
commonly known as: spiral-vined silkpod • Konkani: नागलकुडा nagalkuda • Malayalam: എഴുത്താണി ezhuthaani, കുടിച്ചി കൊടി kudichi-kodi, വലിയ പാൽവള്ളി valiya-paal-valli • Marathi: नागलकुडा nagalkuda

known for / parts made use of: leaves, roots, and bark ... compiled from the web
botanical names: Parsonsia alboflavescens (Dennst.) Mabb. ... homotypic synonyms: Periploca alboflavescens Dennst. ... heterotypic synonyms: Aganosma concanensis Hook. • Parsonsia laevigata (Moon) Alston • Parsonsia spiralis Wall. ex G.Don ... and more at POWO, retrieved October 01, 2026
TAXONOMIC MISTAGGING
The modern identity of Parsonsia alboflavescens hides a curious case of botanical confusion. In several late-20th-century Indian Floras, it was mistakenly classified under the name Parsonsia inodora (Lour.) M.R.Almeida & S.M.Almeida. This misnomer occurred when researchers incorrectly linked its historical records to an old specimen described by Loureiro. However, later global examinations proved that Loureiro’s plant was actually an entirely different species altogether, Gymnema inodorum. While global authorities eventually rejected Parsonsia inodora, the name remains stubbornly attached to many regional Indian databases. ... compiled from the web.
As such, any vernacular names listed exclusively for Parsonsia inodora are omitted from this compilation.
Bibliography / etymology / notes
Links listed as references in the notes below, may not remain valid permanently. Portals / websites have a tendency to re-organize / revise their content, leading to change in URLs of pages in their site. Some sites may even close down at their own will. The bits about the languages of India mentioned below are merely some bare facts gathered from the internet; just enough to satisfy curiosity about "where" could the listed names be best prevalent in India. All English transliterated names to be taken sensu amplo.
~~~~~ ENGLISH ~~~~~
written and spoken widely, in most parts of India
spiral-vined silkpod
~~~~~ KONKANI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (कोंकणी) / Kannada (ಕೊಂಕಣಿ) / Malayalam (കൊങ്കണി) / Perso-Arabic (کونکنی) / Romi (Konknni) ... spoken in: Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat
नागलकुडा nagalkuda
  • for Parsonsia spiralis Wall. ex G.Don ... V D Vartak (1966) - Enumeration of plants from Gomantak India with a note on botanical excursions to the Castlerock area :: Chapter 5 :: Shodhganga :: a reservoir of Indian theses @ INFLIBNET
~~~~~ MALAYALAM ~~~~~
written in: Malayalam (മലയാളം) ... spoken in: Kerala, Lakshadweep
എഴുത്താണി ezhuthaani
കുടിച്ചി കൊടി kudichi-kodi, വലിയ പാൽവള്ളി valiya-paal-valli
~~~~~ MARATHI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (मराठी) ... spoken in: Maharashtra, Karnataka
नागलकुडा nagalkuda
~~~~~ KNOWN DISTRIBUTION in INDIA ~~~~~
Andaman & Nicobar islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal
~~~~~ Created on: 18:08 01-10-2026 ¦ Last updated: 15:02 09-10-2026 (DD-MM-YYYY) ~~~~~
Apocynaceae perennial liana "Parsonsia alboflavescens" "Periploca alboflavescens" "Aganosma concanensis" "Parsonsia laevigata" "Parsonsia spiralis" "spiral-vined silkpod"
.
at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Rauvolfia tetraphylla L.

raau-FO-feeah -- named in honour of Leonhard Rauwolf [↗] , German physician, botanist, and traveller ... Dave's Botanary tet-ruh-F...

  • Names of Plants in India
    This site makes an attempt to gather and share common names of the plants found in India. The common names are just as important as the sci...
  • Hymenosporum flavum (Hook.) F.Muell.
    hy-men-oh-SPOR-um -- Greek: hymen (membrane); spora (seed); referring to winged seed ... Dave's Botanary FLA-vum or FLAY-vum -...
  • Languages of India
    According to the Census of India of 2001, India has 122 major languages and 1599 other languages. However, figures from other sources var...