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CARALLUMA
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Botanical Description :
Caralluma Fimbriata [ Roxbury ]
Family : Asclepiadaceae
Synonym : Caralluma Adscendens
Local Names : Kullee Mooliyan,
Kallimudayan [ Tamil ], Karallamu [ Telugu ],
Yugmaphallottama [ Sanskrit ], anshabar, Makad
Shenguli, Shindala Makadi [ Marathi ]
SPECIES : Caralluma fimbriata
PARTS USED: Aerial |
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Background Information on Caralluma fimbriata
Distribution . A fleshy, thick, succulent
perennial found in the dry hills of Andhra Pradesh,
Warangal, and some other districts of India.
Caralluma is a genus in the Asclepiadaceae family. There
are approximately 100 variable species in the genus. The
star-shaped flowers are black, purple, yellow or red in
colour and may appear in summer or autumn. Stems are
angular with rudimentary leaves, these leaves tend to
resemble spines. The plant is clump forming and are
found in Africa and India.
This large group consists of tender succulents found
wild in Africa, India and Afghanistan. These plants may
be grown outdoors in the warmer and drier parts, or in
greenhouses and window gardens. The plants of this group
vary from thin, recumbent stems from ½ to 1½ inches
thick to erect growing clumps up to 8 inches high. The
spines that cover the angled stems are actually leaves.
The star-shaped, fleshy flowers of these plants are some
of the worst smelling of the succulent plants.
Ordinarily borne in late summer, the foul-smelling
blossoms are usually colored purple, black, yellow, tan,
maroon, red, or dark brown. They are from ½ to 2 inches
or more across and borne at the base of the plant. In
the wild, these blossoms are pollinated by flies, which
are greatly attracted to the plant. Caralluma socotrana
forms a clump of coral-like, pale green stems that grow
up to 6 inches high and 2 feet wide. In the autumn,
maroon flowers are produced. These are followed by
twin-horned, papery seed pods.
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