Scientific name: Rauvolfia tetraphylla L.

Family: Apocynaceae

Synonym: Rauvolfia hirsuta Jacq.

Bengali/Vernacular name: Gandhakuli, Bara chadar.

English name: Be still tree, Devil pepper, Four-leaf devil pepper.

Description of the plant: A small shrub. Leaves in whorls of 4 pubescent, short peduncle, 6-9 cm long, elliptic-lanceolate or obovate, cuneate at the base, acute at the apex. Cymes terminal or axillary, flowers white. Fruits 5 mm in diameter, red, ovoid, pointed, turning shining black when ripe.  

Rauvolfia tetraphylla 

Plant parts used: Root.

Ethnomedicinal uses: Powder made from the roots of the plant is taken twice a day (4 gm amount each time) with water until the control of high blood pressure.

The juice extracted from the roots of the plant is taken three times a day (5 ml amount each time) until the body pain is cured.

Powder made from the roots of the plant is taken for the treatment of amenorrhoea, oligomenorrhoea, and dysmenorrhoea.

Fresh juice is extracted from the roots of the plant is taken four times a day (two tea spoons amount each time) until the chest pain is cured.

Powder made from the roots of the plant is taken twice a day (5 gm amount each time) with water until the excessive menstruation is cured.

Paste prepared from the roots of the plant is applied for the treatment of snake bite and scorpion bites.

Distribution: The species is found in Chittagong, and Rajshahi.

Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….

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