Evolvulus alsinoides - Dwarf Morning Glory
❏ Binomial Name : Evolvulus alsinoides (L.) L.
❏ Synonym : Breweria alsinoides,Evolvulus chinensis,Evolvulus villosus
❏ Family : Convolvulaceae
❏ Common Name : Dwarf Morning Glory
❏ Tamil Name : Vishnukiranthi
❏ Hindi Name : Vishnu Krantha
❏ IUCN status: Not Evaluated
Evolvulus alsinoides Botanical Description
Small prostrate much brnached villous herbs; branches radiating from rootstock. Leaves more or less distinctly in 2 rows, 6-12 x 4-7 mm, broadly elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, base rounded or acute, apex subacute, adpressed pilose on both sides; petiole to 2 mm long. Flowers solitary or paired, at axils; pedicels to 5 mm long, silky hairy; bracts linear, c. 1 mm long. Calyx lobes 2-3 mm long, lanceolate, silky hairy. Corolla c. 1 cm across, rotate, subentire, blue. Ovules 2 in each cell; styles 2, each longitudinally 2-fid. Capsule 1.5-2 mm across, globose, 2-valved. Seeds usually 4, minute. Fl. &Fr.: March-August.
Evolvulus alsinoides Medicinal uses
❀ The whole bitter plant is used extensively as an alterative, anthelminthic, antidiarrhoeal, bitter, febrifuge, tonic and vermifuge
❀ The powdered leaves are applied topically to treat sores
❀ The mashed leaves are applied as a poultice on enlarged glands in the neck
The leaves are made into cigarettes, which are smoked to relieve bronchitis and asthma