CHENNAI: Bright orange-yellow flowers borne on spine tipped, leaf-like bracts - that's Vajradanti for you.
To those born in the 90's the name itself has a recall value - one that transports you to the memories of a popular ad for a tooth powder and paste. The name (vajra: diamond, danti: teeth) itself means the one that makes your teeth as strong as diamond.
Scientifically called Barleria prionitis L., it is a much-branched bushy shrub that reaches up to 2.5 metre.
You can chew on its leaves to ensure strong gums and avoid tooth decay. A gargle of its leaves' decoction can relieve of toothache.
Its poultice can fasten wound healing, relieve rheumatic pain, scabies and itches.
Its branches too are used to treat tooth pain and maintain dental hygiene.
The plant has been reported to pacify Kapha and Vata (bioelements), can be used as an antiseptic and cures whooping cough.
It grows along the hedges and around the neglected areas near habitations, open forests and rocky habitats around the tropical regions of India.
The shrub is hard, drought resistant and can thrive in any type of soil.
With its bright-yellow orange, the plant makes for a great display in the garden too. It is a hassle-free shrub to grow as it is pest and disease resistant plant and can be cultivated in homestead garden.
Being armed with spines, the shrub can protect itself from grazing animals and hence, can be planted along the fences and edges to guard ones garden from cattle. Its flowers are pollinated by insects and butterflier.
These insects can attract insectivorous birds into the garden too.
In Hindi the flower is called Kantsaria, porcupine flower in English, Pivalakoranta in Marathi, Chemmulli in Malayalam and Tamil.
Mullu gorata and Mullu gorante are its vernacular names in Kannada and Telugu respectively.