Barleria lupulina

Syn. Barleria macrostachya

IUCN Red List Not Evaluated (NE)

Local name

Snake bush (English)
Kanta bishalyakarani (Bengali)
Cem-mulli (Tamil)

Shrub type

Evergreen Deciduous

Family: Acanthaceae

1.5m

Indicated uses

Medicinal Edible Ornamental Avenue Other

Flowering & fruiting

Flowering Fruiting

Key characters

Bark

Stem smooth and glabrous; branches reddish-brown. Axillary spines may be present.

Leaves

Leaves narrowly obovate, spine-tipped, 3.5-9 cm long, 0.8-1.2 cm wide.

Flower

Flowers occur in a terminal spike with overlapping bracts which are broadly ovate, 15 mm long, green with purple upper half. Flower consists of a 3 cm long corolla tube, opening into 1 cm long petals.

Fruit / Seeds

Fruit a capsule, containing generally 4 seeds.

Did you know?

In the folk medicine of West Bengal and Bangladesh, Barleria lupulina is known as Kanta Bishalyakarani, meaning “the plant that removes thorns or painful irritants.” The name reflects its traditional use for bites, stings and wounds.

Distribution

Madagascar