Cleisostoma tenuifolium belongs to genus Cleisostoma and Family Orchidaceae, bloomed at M. S. Swaminathan Botanical Garden (MSSBG) conservatory.
The distribution is common in Peninsular India and South East Asian countries. The orchid mostly found on mango tree, where it gets its name ‘Maravara/Maravazha’. The stalk rises up like a reed, filled with clear green mucilage initially then turns dark and watery, covered with white pliable filaments spreads from stalk up to leaves. Petioles of the flowers arises in between the stalk and the leaves are decussately arranged, 10 or 12 in numbers, slender, round and woody, green marked with red dots. The flowers are altogether with their own stalk-lets, irregular and yellow in colour, marked with red along the margins resembling flames with a white or yellowish lip. The flowers are very pleasing to sight with agreeable fragrance.
The whole plant extract has ethno-medicinal values; curative of blood boils, heat boils, urinary tract infections; a preventive of gonorrhoea and various gynaecological problems.
Information& Photo : Mr. Salim Pichan , Editing : Dr. Smitha S. Thankappan , Final Editing & Approval : Dr. N Anil Kumar