Hugonia mystax - Climbing flax

❏ Binomial Name : Hugonia mystax L

❏ Synonym : Hugonia mystacina,Hugonia integerrima, Hugonia obovata

❏ Family : Linaceae

❏ Common Name : Climbing flax

❏ Tamil Name : Mothirakanni

❏ Hindi Name : 

❏ IUCN status: Not Evaluated

Hugonia mystax Botanical Description

Climbing shrubs; branches yellow-tomentose; branchlets short, horizontal with leaflets towards base. Leaves alternate, tapering at base, obtuse or subacute at apex, 3-8 x 1-3.5 cm, hairy on midnerve; lateral nerves prominent on both surfaces; petioles ca 4 mm long, hairy. Peduncles axillary, ca 1mm long, yellow tomentose; bracts subulate, ca 7 mm long. Flowers ca 2.5 cm across. Sepals imbricate, ovate-lanceolate, ca 7 x 3 mm, fulvous pubescent. Petals shortly unguiculate, ca 12 x 7 mm, unequal, twisted, yellow. Stamens 8-10 mm long, alternately long and short; anthers cordate-ovate, erect, 2-loculed, opening by 2-longitudinal clefts. Ovary globose, glabrous; ovules pendulous; styles ca 4 mm long; stigmas lobed. Drupes globose, ca 1 mm, surrounded by persistent scarlet sepals. Fl. & Fr.: August-October.

Hugonia mystax Medicinal uses

The root is powdered and used internally as a febrifuge and in the treatment of intestinal worms

Externally, it is used in reducing inflammatory swellings and as an antidote to snake bites

Hugonia mystax Photos