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CLASSIFICATION

ORDER	: Gentianales
FAMILY	: Apocynaceae
GENUS	: Nerium L.
SPECIES	: oleander L.
BOTANICAL NAME	: Nerium oleander L.
SYNONYMS	: ---
COMMON NAME	: Oleander
TAMIL NAME	: Arali
HINDI NAME	: Kaner

PLANT DESCRIPTION

HABIT :  A small shrub with milky juice present.

LEAVES :  Verticillate in 3 or 2 opposite, linear- lanceolate, narrow at both ends.

INFLORESCENCE :  Terminal panicles of cymes.

FLOWERS :  Pink, red or white, single or double, fragrant, bracteate. Bracts small, calyx divided to the base, lobes 5, linear, acute. Corolla campanulate, petals 5, rounded, overlapping, corona of 5 scales present in the throat of the corolla, each scale divides into 2-7 free segments. Stamens 5, included filaments short, anthers connivent into a cone and adherent to the stigma, connective produced into a feathery appendage. Carpels 2, distinct, style long, stigma dumb-bell shaped.

FRUIT :  A pair of follicles, seeds many, comose.

FLOWERING AND FRUITING TIME :  All the year round.

MEDICINAL USES

Its ethnomedicinal uses include treatment of diverse ailments such as heart failure, asthma, corns, cancer, diabetes, and epilepsy.

Less well appreciated are the skin care benefits of extracts of N.

oleander that include antibacterial, antiviral, immune, and even antitumor properties associated with topical use.

IMAGES

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