Scientific name: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Family: Convolvulaceae
Synonym: Ipomoea reptans Poir.
Bengali/Vernacular name: Kalmi shak, Kalmi.
Tribal name: Kengjoi, Sadoi morock (Marma); Tallun-payn (Chak); Kangchoy (Khumi); Ruithamhor (Pangkhoa); Conzoye, Kawnjey-bawn (Rakhaing).
English name: Swamp cabbage, Water spinach, Water morning glory.
Description of the plant: A glabrous trailer on ground or floating on water, stem hollow, rooting at the nodes. Leaves 5-10 cm long, ovate, ovate-oblong, deltoid, lanceolate or linear, base cordate, sagittate or hastate. Flowers 1-few in axillary cymes. Corolla funnel-shaped, 2.5-5 cm long, pink or pale lilac. Fruit a capsule, persistent, ovoid to globose, calyx ebracing the fruit.
Plant parts used: Leaf and stem.
Medicinal uses: Fresh juice extracted from leaves and stems of the plant is taken to treat stomachache.
Fresh juice (100 ml amount) extracted from leaves and stems of the plant mixed with 250 ml of cow milk, this mixture are taken twice a day until the diabetes is cured.
Extracts of leaves and stems of the plants are taken for the treatment of jaundice and nervous debility.
Juice extracted from leaves and stems of the plant is used in arsenic poisoning.
Distribution: All over the country in ponds, lakes and swamps.
Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….
