Tinospora cordifolia

Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.)

Family     : Menispermaceae  

Common Name  : അമൃത് (Mal)

        छिन्नरुहा  (Hin)

                                Indian Tinospora,(Eng)

Gulbel is a native plant from India, also known to be found in Far East, primarily in rainforests. The plant is climbing shrub with heart-shaped leaves. It has stems about 6 cm in diameter, with light grey, papery bark. The leaves are 7.5-14 cm long, 9-17 cm broad, broadly ovate or orbicular, deeply heart shaped at the base. Tiny greenish yellow flowers occur in racemes 7-14 cm long. Flowers have 3+3 sepals in 2 layers, the outer ones are small, the inner large large. Six stamens prominently protrude out. The plant flowers during the summer and fruits during the winter. Gulbel prefers acid, neutral or basic alkaline soil. It can grow in semi-shade or no shade.

Glabrous climbers; stems smooth, developing a thin parchment-like bark. Leaves simple, alternate, 5-15x 5-13 cm, broadly cordate to cordate, basal sinus often very broad, apex abruptly acuminate; petioles 2-7 cm long. Inflorescences up to 15 cm long, appearing with leaves, drooping. Male flowers: outer 3 sepals greenish-yellow, ovate 1-1.5 mm long, inner 3 elliptic, concave, 3-4 mm long; petals rhombic-clawed, externally papillose towards base, 2-2.5 mm long; stamen clavate, 3 mm long. Female flowers: petals broadly spathulate; staminodes 1.5 mm long, carpels 1.8 mm long. Drupes 1-3, red, endocarp thinly bony, broadly elliptic to subrotund in outline, 6-7 mm long.