Scientific name: Clitoria ternatea L.
Family: Fabaceae
Synonym: Clitoria philippensis Perr., Clitoria parviflora Raf.
Bengali/Vernacular name: Aparajita, Nil aparajita, Nila.
Tribal name: Apung fai (Chak), Amio (Marma), Bay song kra (Murang), Kala ongey phil (Chakma), Ammai-noo-apang (Rakhaing).
English name: Butterfly pea.
Description of the plant: A perennial twining herb with cylindrical and slender stem. Leaves imparipinnate, leaflets 5-7, elliptic-oblong, apex acute, base obtuse or acute, stipules linear, stipels filiform. Flowers large, axillary, solitary; corolla deep blue with a white, yellowish, or pale blue center. Pods 5-10 cm long, beaked, with 6-10 seeds.
Plant parts used: Leaf, flower, fruit, seed, and root.
Ethnomedicinal uses: A fresh juice is extracted from the leaves of the plant is taken thrice a day (two tea spoons amount each time) until the menopause is cured.
A decoction is made with the flowers and salt, and then it is advised to take three times a day (10 ml amount each time) until the cough is cured.
Seeds are burned for fume inhalation to treat asthma.
An extract is made with the fruits of the plant is given in diarrhoea and dysentery.
Warm leaf juice mixed with salt, then it is applied around the ears to treat earache.
Powder prepared from the dried roots of the plant is given in jaundice.
The leaves of the plant are used for the treatment of fever, piles, and smallpox.
Paste prepared from the leaves of the plant is applied to treat inflammation, leucoderma, leprosy, skin disease, wound, insect bite, and snake bite.
Distribution: The species occurs throughout the country under cultivation.
Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….
