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CLASSIFICATION

ORDER	: Zingiberales
FAMILY	: Costaceae
GENUS	: Chamaecostus
SPECIES	: cuspidatus
BOTANICAL NAME	: Chamaecostus cuspidatus (Nees & Mart.) C.Specht & D.W.S
SYNONYMS	: ---
COMMON NAME	: Painted spiral ginger.
TAMIL NAME	: Insulin chedi.
HINDI NAME	: ---

PLANT DESCRIPTION

HABIT:  Insulin plant is a perennial, herbaceous plant. It is an upright, spreading plant growing up to a height of 2 to 5 feet, with the tallest stems falling and lying on the ground.

LEAVES:  The leaves are simple, alternate, entire, oblong, 4-8 inches long with parallel venation, spirally arranged around the stems. Large, fleshy, smooth, and dark green leaves have a light purple underside.

FLOWERS :  The blooms are orange in color and are 1.5 inches in diameter. The flowers have a sparkly sheen, dentate edges, and have the appearance of being made out of crepe paper.

FLOWERING AND FRUITING TIME:  They bloom during the time of May to June (warm months) and they appear to be cone-like heads at the tips of branches.

MEDICINAL USES

The Costus pictus is valued mainly for its tonic, stimulant and antiseptic properties.

It is said to be aphrodisiac and to be able to prevent the hair turning grey.

Its root is anodyne, antibacterial, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, carminative, skin, stimulant, stomachic, tonic and vermifuge.

IMAGES

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