Category: S

Botanical name: Mentha spicata Spearmint oil is crafted from extracts of a perennial herb indigenous to the Mediterranean region. Highly esteemed for its medicinal properties, it is also believed to be a remedy for sexually transmitted diseases. This colorless, clear liquid, featuring a characteristic spearmint aroma, is soluble in water but insoluble in alcohol and…

Strychnos wallichiana Steudel ex DC. (LOGANIACEAE) Common namesKannada: Balli kasaraka.Malayalam: Valli-kanjira.Tamil: Valli-kanjiram. Description: Large woody climbers; tendrils bi-fid. Leaves ovate or elliptic, up to15 x 5 cm, rounded at base, acute or acuminate at apex, shining. Basal nerves 3; petioles up to 7 mm long. Flowers in terminal cymes, from old wood. Calyx lobes 5.…

Syzygium zeylanicum (L.) DC. (MYRTACEAE) Common namesKannada: Kunnerael, Bilinerale.Malayalam: Pula. Description: These are trees with pale brown bark. The leaves are arranged oppositely, with an ovate or elliptic-lanceolate shape, measuring 7-9 x 2.5-3.2 cm. They are acuminate, rounded, or narrowed at the base, and acuminate at the apex, featuring a coriaceous texture. The upper surface turns black…

Syzygium heyneanum (Duthie) Wallich ex Gamble (MYRTACEAE) Common name:Kannada: Simpi nerale. Description: These are shrubs or small trees, reaching heights of up to 5 meters. The leaves are arranged opposite, with a linear-elliptic or narrowly oblong shape, measuring up to 12 x 3.5 cm. They taper at the base, have a subobtuse apex, and exhibit pellucid-punctate…

Syzygium laetum (Buch. – Ham.) Gandhi  (MYRTACEAE) Description: Trees up to 10 meters tall; bark smooth, white. Leaves opposite, ovate or elliptic, up to 11.5 x 5 cm, narrowed at base, acuminate at apex, glabrous. Flowers in few-flowered, ca 5 cm across cymes. Calyx tube narrow narrowly conical, lobes 4. Petals 4, orbicular, ca 1.5 cm across, white.…

Syzygium cumini  (L.) Skeels  (MYRTACEAE) Common nameKannada – Nerale. Description: Trees, up to 16 m tall; bark smooth, light grey. Leaves opposite, variable in shape, ovate, to elliptic-lanceolate or elliptic-oblong, up to 16 x 5 cm, narrowed at base, acute, acuminate or rarely obtuse at apex, chartaceous; lateral nerves distinct beneath; petiole up to 3 cm long.…

Syzygium caryophyllatum (L.) Alston (MYRTACEAE) Common namesKannada – Kuntala, Kuntu nerale. Description: Small trees; bark smooth, grey. Leaves opposite, elliptic – obovate, up to 11 x 6 cm, narrowed at base, obtuse or subacute at apex, coriaceous; tertiary veins prominently elevated on lower surface; petiole ca 5 mm long. Flowers small, in terminal corymbose cymes, white,…

Symplocos racemosa Roxb. (SYMPLOCACEAE) Common namesKannada: Bala loddugina mara.Tulu & Malayalam: Pachotti.Sanskrit: Batabhadra, Balipriya.Tamil: Velli-lethi.Telugu: Lodduga, Sapara.English: Sapphire berry, Sweet leaf. Description: Evergreen trees, 10-15 m tall; bark often marked with white patches. Leaves crowded at the ends of the branches, elliptic-oblong or elliptic-lanceolate, 8-16 x 3-6.5 cm, narrowed at base, acute or acuminate at…

Strychnos nuxvomica L. (LOGANIACEAE) Common namesKannada: Hemmushti, Kasaraka.Tulu: Kayar.Malayalam: Kanjiram.Sanskrit: Dirghapatra, Vishamushti.Tamil: Etti, Kanjirai.Telugu: Mushti, Mushidi. Description: Large deciduous trees, up to 30 m tall with short sharp axillary spines; bark thin, grey, smooth or rough with lenticels. Leaves broadly elliptic or orbicular, 7-15 x 4-8 cm, attenuate at base, obtuse or acute at apex,…

Sterculia urens Roxb. (STERCULIACEAE) Common namesKannada: Bhutali, Kempudale.Malayalam: Thondi.Tamil: Kavalam, Senthanaku, Vellaippulali.Telugu: Tabsu. Description: The trees can reach heights of up to 15 meters, with young parts exhibiting varying degrees of pubescence. The bark is white, smooth, with an outer layer that peels off in papery sheets, revealing an inner fibrous texture. Leaves alternate, crowded…