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Sarpagandha

Local Name	:	Sarpagandha
Botanical Name	:	Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz
Common Name	:	Indian snakeroot
Family	:	Apocynaceae
Distribution	:	It is widely distributed in India including Odisha. Native to the Indian subcontinent. It is also found in South Asia, including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
Habit	:	Shrub
Short Description	:	It is a small, woody, evergreen shrub with significant medicinal properties.

Descriptions

It is a small, woody, evergreen shrub. The leaves are glossy green, simple, and arranged in whorls of 3-6 along the stem. They are elliptical to lanceolate in shape. Flowers are small, white to pale pink, and fragrant. They are arranged in clusters at the ends of branches. The fruits are small, spherical berries that turn from green to black when ripe. Each fruit contains several seeds.

Flowering & Fruiting Period

July - September

Use(s)

Root paste is used in insect bites.