DIGITAL GARDEN

DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY
MEDICINAL PLANTS

Clitoria ternatea L.

Common Name: Asian Pigeonwings
Family: Leguminosae
Vernacular Name: Shangupushpam Malayalam., Shangu Kannikodi – Tamil
Synonyms: Clitoria albiflora Mattei., Clitoria ternatensium Crantz., Ternatea ternatea (L.) Kuntze., Ternatea vulgaris Kunth.
Plant Description: C. ternatea is a perennial herbaceous plant with elliptic obtuse leaves. Flowers are pea-shaped, funnel shaped that are solitary. Fruits are linear to oblong pods.
Distribution and Habitat: The plant is native to equatorial Asia. It is widely cultivated in gardens and sometimes seen growing wild in disturbed, open spaces.
Uses:
The flower can be used to dye natural fibers and is used by traditional societies in Asia.
In traditional ayurvedic medicine, it is used to treat memory enhancing, anti-stress, antidepressant, anticonvulsant, and sedative properties. Its extracts posses a wide range of pharmacological activities including antimicrobial,, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic properties.