Page 8 - common trees of flowers of Uttarakhand

08 | COMMON TREES AND FLOWERS OF UTTARAKHAND WILDFLOWERS OF THE MID-ELEVATIONS IN THE HIMALAYA

Commelinaceae Wandering Dayflower Commelina paludosa
Alternate English name: Climbing Dayflower Local name: Kachhata (Sanskrit), Kanshura

Synonym Commelina obliqua
Plant type & size Native herb,
30-70cm tall.
Flower size 4-6mm.
Flowering July-September

Description This plant is found
throughout the tropical regions of
the world.It is found in the
Himalaya up to an elevation of
2100m. It is an erect or creeping
herb that grows on open, marshy or Suniti Bhushan Datta
waterlogged hillsides in the
Himalaya, and best seen well after

the monsoon has set in. The leaves are
long and lance-shaped and the sky-
blue flowers with bright yellow anthers
are easily recognisable.
Medicinal and other uses
The plant is used to cure generic
fevers, as a diuretic and to treat
excessive bleeding.

Sanjay Sondhi Suniti Bhushan Datta

Nature notes
This species is the host plant for the moth Rhynchina obliqualis..
The genus Commelina honours Caspar Commelin (1668-1731),
a Dutch botanist, who was instrumental in establishing the
Amsterdam Botanical Garden.

TERAI MID-ALTITUDE
LANDSCAPE LANDSCAPE
COMMON TREES AND FLOWERS OF UTTARAKHAND
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