PUTRAJEEVAK, THE MEDICINAL SHRUB

Drypetes roxburghii (Wall.) Hurusawa in Journ. Fac. Sc. Univ. Tokyo, sect 3, Bot. 4:335, 1954; Almeida, Fl. Savantwadi 381, 1990; Almeida, FM 4: 302, 2003.Putranjiva roxburghii Wall., Tent. Fl. Nepal 61, 1826.

Family : Euphorbiaceae Juss.
ESTD. by: Putrajeevak (Raaj Nighantu), (Kirtikar & Basu).
Description: Evergreen tree. Leaves elliptic-oblong, dark-green, coriaceous. Flowers dioecious; male flowers crowded, axillary; female flowers 1-3 together, axillary. Drupe ellipsoid, pointed at the apex.

Phenology (Fl. & Frt.):March-May.

JEEVANIYA GANA and ASHTAVARGA

The plants of Jeevaniya [inclusive of Ashtavarga, first 8 plants of the following] are considered highly medicinal but their botanical identity is disputed. The books themselves mention the use of substitutes like Ashwagandha, Shatavari in case of non availibility of this plants which term their rare nature. However interestingly the choice of substitutes like Shatavari (roots), Ashwagandha (roots), Vidarikand (sap) give us a faint guideline as to identification of this plants which may predominantly belong to the orchid and lily families. Also since their availability is depicted in cold mountains of Himalays the following plants are heavily discussed as source.