Vernacular names:
Nilappana, നിലപ്പന (Malayalam), Black musale (English), Musali (Sanskrit), Kali musali (Hindi), Nilappanaikizhangu (Tamil)
Distribution: Indo-Malesia
Description: Herbs. Leaves lanceolate, plicate, base sheathing. Flowers yellow. Fruit baccate; seeds subglobose.
Habit: Herb
Habitat: Moist deciduous forests and grasslands, also in the plains
Flowering & Fruiting: June-December
Parts used: Tubers root
Properties & Uses: Aphrodisiac, diuretic, laxative and rejuvenative. Tuberous roots are used for the treatment of piles and blood disorders. Paste of rhizome used in skin diseases and itches. It is also used to treat urinary diseases, jaundice, asthma, diarrhea and gonorrhea.
Systems of Medicines:
Ayurveda, Folk, Unani,
Traditional Uses:The paste form of rhizome applied on affected areas to cure skin diseases and itches .