Indian Screw Tree
Helicteres isora, (Sanskrit : Vishanika) sometimes called the Indian screw tree, is a species of small tree or large shrub found in Asia including India, South china, Malay Peninsula, Java and Saudi Arabia. Also, found in Australia. The red flowers are pollinated mainly by birds of the sunbird family.
It Possess an impressive range of nutritional and medicinal properties. Fibres from the bark are used to make rope. They are also visited by many butterflies and hymenoptera.
Common name: East-Indian screw tree, Nut-leaved screw tree • Maror phali • Mriga Shringa • Common name
- Sanskrit - Avartani; Mrigshringa
- Hindi - Marorphali, Bhendu, Jonkphal,
- English - Indian Screw Tree, East Indian Screw Tree, Deer’s Horn
- Marathi - Kewad, Muradsheng
- Bengali - Antamora
- Gujarati - Maradashingh
Large shrub or small tree (5–8 m in height) with grey bark and alternately arranged hairy, ovate shaped leaves with serrate margins. Bark is greyish in color. Leaves are Flower are brick red or orange-red in color. Fruits are compound pod, twisted like screw with pointed end, signifying the name “Indian Screw Tree”. Raw fruits are greenish in color, brown or grey when dried. Seeds are black-brown, highly polished, roughly rhomboid, rectangle or triangular in shape.
It is a rich source of nutrients and antioxidants of therapeutic importance. Investigations have indicated that the plant has antioxidant, anticancer, anti-diabetic and antimicrobiaproperties.
