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The bonesetter in your backyard
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Cissus is said to cure many an ailment
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Cissus is a succulent climber that has a few leaves with tendrils, unusually four angled stems and thinner wavy-margined, horny branches constricted at the nodes. Native of tropical Africa, Arabica and India, the plant is known as Nalleru in Telugu, Indiravalli in Tamil and Piranta in Malayalam. Entire three lobed ovate to triangular coarsely-toothed fleshy mid-green leaves 2 cms or more long develop form the nodes and opposite to the tendrils. It has small green or yellow flowers open in summer followed by ovoid reddish black fruit 4 mm across.
Cissus Quandragularis is a good plant for homes - suitable for hanging baskets, pots, to cover trellis, pergola and also to grow up the tree trunks. Water moderately.
Propagation by stem cuttings, grouping them in light sandy soil. Contact with the sap will irritate the skin.
It is an ornamental vine as well as an herbal medicinal plant, used in indigenous medicines, contains vitamin C and calcium. It is also a bonesetter: paste of the stem applied on fractured bones will set the bones and control inflammation. Leaves and stems chopped and cooked with pulses in a remedy for asthma and stomach problems. Tender stems are chopped and mixed with dosa batter. Also ground with coconut and made into chutneys for dosa and rice.
CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN
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