Ixora javanica (Blume) DC | |
Rubiaceae | |
Naavilla arali | |
| Botanical Name | Ixora javanica (Blume) DC |
| Synonyms | Ixora amoena Wall. ex G. Don.; Pavetta javanica Blume |
| Family | Rubiaceae |
| Common Name | English: White Frangipani, Bridal bouquet / Tamil: Naavilla arali |
| Distribution | Global: Southeast Asia and ornamental in Tropical countries. Indian: Throughout India |
| Description | Evergreen shrub up to 3 m height, bark greenish brown. Leaves light green, simple, opposite decussate, oval shaped, margin entire, apex acute, stipules interpetiolar. Inflorescence dichasial cyme. Flower tetramerous, tubular, funnel shaped, complete, bisexual, actinomorphic and epigynous. calyx 4 sepals, united, teethed at tip, corolla, salver form, 4 petals, long tubular at base and lobed at the end. Stamens 4, epipetalous, filament short, anther small arrowed attached at the neck of the corolla. Gynoecium bicarpellary, syncarpous, inferior ovary, style long, stigma bifid. Fruit a berry, black at maturity. |
| Flowering Fruiting period | Throughout the year. |
| Uses | Ornamental plant grown in garden. |
| Medicinal Uses | Plant possess several ethnomedicinal importance such antioxidant and antibacterial, hepatoprotectives and anticancer activity. |
| Tamil Name | Naavilla arali |