Mussaenda philippica A. Rich. | |
Rubiaceae | |
Sigappu madanthai | |
| Botanical Name | Mussaenda philippica A. Rich. |
| Synonyms | --- |
| Family | Rubiaceae |
| Common Name | English: Queen Sirikit, Musanda / Tamil: Sigappu madanthai |
| Distribution | Global: Native to Philippines. Ornamental introduced throughout the World. Indian: Throughout India |
| Description | Small tree or large shrub grows up to 4m height. Leave simple, ovate to elliptic, acuminate, petiole slender, stipules sericeous, triangular, with a deeply bifid acumen. Inflorescence panicle trichotomous, densely sericeous, bracts linear, bracteoles irregularly trifid. Flowers dioecious, calyx caducous, lobed almost to base, 5 lobed, one enlarged than others, small extra subulate lobes accompanying the enlarged leaf-like lobe, pink, membranous, thinly sericeous, veins prominent, corolla densely but shortly pubescent without, limb ovoid, corolla lobe separate, ovate to acuminate, staminate flowers shortly bearded and densely yellow hirsute, anthers 4-5mm long, pistilode present. Female flower with staminodes, pistil globrous, style filiform and subexerted stigma, bifid. Fruit ellipsoid berry. |
| Flowering Fruiting period | March - June |
| Uses | Ornamental in garden. |
| Medicinal Uses | Plants decoction used in the treatment of chest and lungs infection and also, for respiratory problems. |
| Tamil Name | Sigappu madanthai |