Clerodendron infortunatum - Peruvalam -Perugilai

Clerodendron infortunatum is commonly known as Perugilai in tamil...


Class: Docotyledons

Sub-class: Gamopetalae

Series: Bicarpellatae

Order: Lamiales

Family: Verbenaceae

Distribution:

Clerodendron infortunatum is distributed in tropical and sub-tropical regions...It is seen especially in places of moisture and in places over 600 feet in the hills and in villages..

Description:

Clerodendron infortunatum is a large shrub..It is used as a medicinal shrub..The stem is woody,quadrangular,green in colour,branched and has silky hairs..Leaves are simple,opposite,decussate,exstipulate,petiolate,hairy,cordate,tormentose and entire acuminate..Venation is unicostate reticulate..Flowers are white in colour,salver shaped tube usually long and slender..

Uses:

Cleodendron infortunatum is used in indian homeopathy..It is used as a remedy for diarrhoea..Peruvalam is used in postnatal care..It is also used to dress fresh wounds..It is ued as an ayurvedic shrub in Kerala..Dried leaves are used as tonic..They are antipyretic,antihelminthic,bitter but efficient..It is used externally for tumours and in skin diseases..Fresh juice of leaves is a bitter tonic and is used in the treatment of malaria,especially for children...Leaves and flowers are used as a cure for scorpion sting...The sprouts are used in snake bite...