Duranta erecta L.
Vernacular name: Sky flower, Golden Dewdrop
Species Name: Duranta erecta L.
Family: Verbenaceae
Habit: Fast-growing shrub
Stem: Square, herbaceous but woody below, erect, branched, solid, green.
Leaf: simple, opposite decussate or whorled, petiolate, obovate, ovate or elliptic, entire, with axillary thorns and unicostate reticulate venation.
Flowering: Throughout the year
Flowers: Raceme inflorescence, bisexual flowers, Complete, bisexual, bracteates, bracts small at the base of the flowers, pedicellate, hypogynous, zygomorphic, pentamerous, bluish-white in colour.
Fruit: Throughout the year
Propagation: Seed
Uses
- Fruit juice is also known to be used against mosquitoes.
- It has insecticidal properties.
- In traditional medicines, it is used as diuretic.
- It is also used to treat intestinal worms, abscesses, skin itches and rheumatism.
- Commonly cultivated in the gardens and used as a border or hedge plant.
- Its thick root system can prevent soil erosion on slopes.
