Rainforest Flowers
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- Patchouli
Patchouli is a luxuriant perennial herb that grows up to three feet or one meter in height. The plant possesses stems that have square shapes and bears elliptical leaves. The leaves of the plant are soft and grow opposite to each other. They emit an aroma when rubbed. Patchouli bears spikes that bear whorls of flowers whose colors vary from white to pale purple. Some flowers may be whitish with a tinge of purple and found growing on auxiliary as well as terminal spikes.
In many Asian countries, especially India, China and the Arabic nations, the herb has been traditionally and extensively used in preparing a number of herbal medications to treat several conditions. Patchouli has been widely used as an aphrodisiac or a magic potion that arouses sexual desire. While the leaves of the herb possess therapeutic properties, the essential oil obtained from patchouli is still used widely in India to prepare scents as well as an insect repellent.
Patchouli is basically indigenous to the Philippines and Malaysia in Asia, but presently it is extensively grown in different tropical and sub-tropical climatic regions worldwide. This herb has been widely used in Chinese, Indian and Arabic herbal medicine since ages. As mentioned earlier, the essential oil obtained from the plant is extensively used in India as well as other Asian countries for manufacturing scents as well as insect repellents. The primary role of patchouli in traditional herbal medicine of India, China and the Arabic world has that been of an antidepressant, antiseptic and aphrodisiac. Many herbalists also recommend medical formulations prepared with patchouli for topical application to treat fevers and headaches.
Common names
- Arjaka
- Basil
- Common Basil
- French Basil
- Garden Basil
- Luole
- Royal Herb
- St. Josephwort
- Sweet Basil
- Tulsi
The plant known as the basil is an annual herb, which is cultivated worldwide as a flavoring herb in many cuisines. The basil comes in many different varieties, each with its own unique chemical composition and characteristic flavor - the main use of the herb is culinary. The flavor and character of any particular variety of basil is affected to a great extent by many external environmental factors, including factors such as temperature, the type of soil, the geographic location, and even the amount of rainfall received by the individual plant. Morphogically the plant possesses thin branching root which grow out into bushy stems that can reach 1-2 feet in height when fully grown, the stem of the plant bears many leaves which have a characteristic purple hue or coloration, and the flowers are peculiar in having two lips. Floral colors can vary from in fully white to fully red - at times a slight purple tinge can be detected in the flowers.
Common names
- Common Fennel
- Fennel
- Hsiao-hui-hsiang
- Large Fennel
- Roman Fennel
- Shatapushpa
- Shih-lo
- Sweet Fennel
- Tzu-mo-lo
- Wild Fennel
- Xiao-hue-xiang
The well known aromatic culinary herb called the fennel was extensively used as an herbal remedy to aid digestion in the ancient eras; it is a very pretty and feathery looking fragrant herb. Digestion and absorption of food is promoted by the herb, as the volatile oils in the plant affect and increase the secretion of digestive enzymes in the stomach. Spasms in the digestive tract are relaxed by the effective carminative properties of the herb and in addition, the herb also helps in relieving excess abdominal wind, it aids in bringing about a reduction in colic and in reducing the discomfort of hiccoughs, in this role the fennel is an ingredient in the gripe water used to reduce colic. Disorders such as long term indigestion, problems like heartburn, persistentconstipation and abdominal pain can be treated using the fennel as a herbal remedy, traditionally the ability of the fennel to increase digestion was known, and it was added to cooking food for this very reason. Many types of disorders which are peculiar to women can be treated with the herbal remedies made from the fennel herb.
Rainforest Flowers
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Tropical Fruits
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