Week and Your Plants – December 11 to December 17

Zodiac sign : Scorpio / Vrschika

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Acacia catechu (കരിങ്ങാലി) - Fabaceae

It is a medium sized thorny tree with peeling dark grey bark and a pair of recurved prickles at the base of the leaf stalk. Flowers yellowish white in elongate spikes. Pods flat brown when ripe having flat seeds. Bark and heartwood are very useful. It is used for skin care, gastric issues, colic diseases, cough, diarrhoea, diabetes etc. It is a source of Katha, which is used in north Indian paan and as mouth freshener.

December 11, Monday : Visakham : Flacourtia jangomas (വയ്യങ്കത)- Salicaceae

Flacourtia-jangomas-scaled

It is a small, spiny, evergreen tree that branches from very low down on the bole. The plant is cultivated for its edible fruit. The roots, leaves and bark all contain tannins and are used in the treatment of diarrhoea.

December 12, Tuesday : Anizham : Mimusops elengi (ഇലഞ്ഞി) - Sapotaceae

Mimusops-elengi

A good garden and avenue tree of evergreen nature. It is mainly used for dental ailments such as bleeding gums, pyorrhea, dental caries, etc. The flowers are used to make roseries/ mala.

December 13, Wednesday : Thriketta : Aporosa cardiosperma (വെട്ടി) - Phyllanthaceae

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A medium sized tree with elongate leaves and flowers in small spikes. The timber is used for construction purpose. Fruits edible, leaves coolant. Also for fever, etc.

December 14, Thursday : Moolam : Vateria indica (വെള്ളപ്പൈൻ) - Dipterocarpaceae

Vateria-indica-scaled

Tall trees. The dammar resin obtained from bark of the tree is used for the treatment of cough, asthma, leprosy, skin eruptions, crack and wounds. Resin from the bark is also used as an incense in India and as an Ayurvedic medicine.

December 15, Friday : Pooradam : Salix tetrasperma (ആറ്റുവഞ്ചി) - Salicaceae

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A medium sized tree of riverbanks and wetlands. Its bark has been used in traditional medicine in many countries to alleviate pain, fever, and inflammation. The non-medicinal applications of the plant include the use as fodder, soil binder on embankments and fuel and in making baskets, agricultural tools, sports articles, furniture and roofing material.

December 15, Friday: Uthradam : Artocarpus heterophyllus (പ്ലാവ്) – Moraceae

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Large evergreen trees with milky white exudate and are cultivated. Fruits are edible,large agrregate (sorosis) with yellowish-green conical tubercles.

December 16, Saturday : Thiruvonam : Calotropis gigantea (എരുക്ക് ) - Apocynaceae

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Shrubs with opposite broad thick leaves. Calotropis is used for conditions such as digestive disorders, toothache, cramps, joint pain, and many others like swellings. Spiritually significant as the flowers in Shiv pooja.

Zodiac Sign : Sagittarius / Dhanu

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Ficus religiosa (അരയാൽ) – Moraceae

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It is often called as sacred fig, an evergreen tree with a wide-spreading crown and caudate leaves. The older tree may buttressed. The tree often starts life as an epiphyte in the branch of a tree. The tree is harvested for food, medicines and various other usesalso spiritually important. This is the species under which the Buddha sat when he achieved Realisation. As such it is a holy tree for Buddhists. It is also a sacred tree for Hindus.It yiledsyields fodder and food for birds and arboreal animals.

December 17, Sunday : Avitam : Prosopis cineraria (വഹ്‌നി ) - Fabaceae

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Thorny trees of costal and dry zones providing fodder, fuel for timber, and shade, as well as affecting soil improvement and sand dune stabilization. Known to be used for Treatment of various ailments like leprosy, dysentery, asthma, leucoderma, dyspepsia and earache etc.