Ixora coccinea L. | |
Rubiaceae | |
Vetchi | |
| Botanical Name | Ixora coccinea L. |
| Synonyms | Pavetta coccinea. (L.) Blume |
| Family | Rubiaceae |
| Common Name | English: Jungle flame / Tamil: Vetchi |
| Distribution | Global: Peninsular India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. Indian: Assam, Bihar, Maharastra, Gujarat, Kerala and Tamilnadu |
| Description | Small evergreen tree up to 7m height. Leaves opposite decussate, elliptic to oblong, shortly acute at apex, round to slightly cordate at base, sessile, greenish on drying. Inflorescence corymbs, peduncle and pedicels short. Calyx tube long, puberulous without; lobes minute. Corolla scarlet, with long tube. Stamens attached at throat; anthers inserted. Ovary inferior. Fruit berry, seeds 2, globose. |
| Flowering Fruiting period | Throughout the year but best during the rains. |
| Uses | Used as an ornamental, medicine, fence plant, and fodder for livestock |
| Medicinal Uses | The fruit of Ixora coccinea is used to care for dysentery, ulcers and gonorrhea. |
| Tamil Name | Vetchi |