| Operculina turpethum | |
|---|---|
_in_Kawal,_AP_W_IMG_2211.jpg')) | |
| in Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, India. | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Solanales |
| Family: | Convolvulaceae |
| Genus: | Operculina |
| Species: | O. turpethum |
| Binomial name | |
| Operculina turpethum (L.) Silva Manso | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| Merremia turpethum (L.) Shah & Bhatt. | |
A plant in the morning glory family, Operculina turpethum (syn. Ipomoea turpethum) is known commonly as turpeth, fue vao, and St. Thomas lidpod.
It is perennial herbaceous, hairy vines growing 4 to 5 meter in length, endemic to India. It is commonly found in North Circars and Deccan region up to 3000 ft. The leaves are alternate, very variable in shape, ovate, oblong and truncate or cordate at the base. The flowers are large, axillary and solitary. Fruit is a capsule with conspicuous enlarged sepals and thickened pedicles.
It is actually not a purgative but a mild laxative.
References
- ^ Merremia turpethum, Medicinal Plants of Andhra Pradesh, Part-1, Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine, New Delhi, 1999, pp: 84.
External links
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Media related to Operculina turpethum at Wikimedia Commons
- Caldecott, Todd (2006). Ayurveda: The Divine Science of Life. Elsevier/Mosby. ISBN 0-7234-3410-7. Contains a detailed monograph on Operculina turpethum (Trivrit), as well as a discussion of health benefits and usage in clinical practice. Available online at http://www.toddcaldecott.com/index.php/herbs/learning-herbs/337-trivrit