Scientific Name: Clerodendrum infortunatum
English Name: Bhat or Hill Glory Bower
Malayalam: വട്ടപ്പെരുക്
Family: Lamiaceae
Location: Ambalavayal, Wayanad , Kerala
Conservation status: Not evaluated (IUCN).
General Features: A large, tawny-villous shrub, up to 3m. Leaves are simple, opposite; both surfaces are sparsely villous-pubescent. Inflorescence in a terminal, peduncled, few-flowered cyme; flowers white with purplish-pink or dull-purple throat, pubescent. Fruit berry, globose, turned bluish-black or black when ripe, enclosed in the red accrescent fruiting-calyx.
Cultural/Economical/ Ecological significance: Used in Ayurvedic and Siddha traditional medicines. Fresh leaves are given for diarrhea, liver disorders, and headache. In many traditional practices, the leaves and roots are widely used as antihyperglycemic. leaf and root are used as antidandruff, antipyretic, ascaricide, laxative, vermifuge, anticonvulsant, antidiabetic. Leaves are used as a platter.

Text and Illustration by Adila Farisa