Hybanthus enneaspermus

Appearance

Leaves are linear to lance-like, 1-5 cm long, margins recurved to revolute, occasionally flat; stipules acuminate, 1-4 mm long. Pink-purple spade-shaped flowers occur solitary. Sepals 3-4 mm long. Lower petal broad spade-shaped, pink-purple, with deep purple veins. Upper petals linear-oblong, 3-4 mm long; lateral pair 4.5-5 mm long. Anthers without appendages. Capsule 4-9 mm long; seeds 5-12, pitted between ribs.

Naming

Common names:
English: Spade Flower, Pink ladies slipper
Hindi: रतनपुरुष Ratan purush
Bengali: Munbora
Kannada: ಪುರುಶರತ್ನ Purusharathna
Malayalam: Orilathamatai
Telugu: రత్నపురుశ Ratnapurusha
Marathi: Rathanparas
Sanskrit: रत्नपुरुष Rathnapurusha
Tamil: Orilai Thamarai

Distribution

Global Distribution
Sri Lanka, India, China, Madagascar, Africa and Tropical Australia
Indian distribution
State - Kerala, District/s: All Districts

Habitat

Dry deciduous forests and wastelands

Uses

This herb is considered to be extremely beneficial to men, used as a diuretic, demulcent and tonic.