Nerium oleander Mill
Vernacular name: Kaner, Oleander
Species Name: Nerium oleander Mill
Family: Apocynaceae
Habit: Shrub
Stem: Milky sap filled stem
Leaf: Verticillate in 3 or 2 opposite, linear- lanceolate, narrow at both ends.
Flowering: All the year round
Flowers: Terminal panicles of cymes inflorescence, bisexual flowers, Pink, red or white, single or double, fragrant, bracteate, Corolla campanulate
Fruit: A pair of follicles
Uses:
- Commonly grown in the gardens everywhere as its fast growing and has vibrant cluster of flowers.
- The whole plant is extremely poisonous, even burning its part can cause skin and respiratory irritations.
- Ingestion of plant can cause cardiac arrhythmias and deaths.
- The plants are almost free from pests and diseases and untouched by cattle and goats, due to their toxicity so acts as natural pesticide, rodenticide and insecticide.
- Due to its drought tolerant property, plant can grow well in dry soil and intense sunlight making it perfect plant for highway median barrier.
- Ayurvedic medicines and folklore remedies uses this plant for ringworm, herpes, skin disease and wound healing.
- Plant is used as cardiac tonic and diuretic and in treatment od asthma and epilepsy.
