• Chitrak / Chitruk / चित्रक / Plumbago zeylancia L.
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Chitrak / Chitruk / चित्रक / Plumbago zeylancia L.

Local Name: Chitrak / Chitruk / चित्रक

Common Name:

Botanical Name: Plumbago zeylancia L.

Chitrak / Chitruk / चित्रक / Plumbago zeylancia L.

Status & Habitat

  • Habitat: Shrub

  • Occurrence: Barren lands, Farm bunds, Hilly area

  • Season of Availability: Throughout the year

  • Geography: Asia and Australia

  • Method of Propagation: Seed and Vegetative propagation

  • Part used for Propagation: Seeds and stem cuttings

Edible Parts

  • Edible Parts: Leaves

  • Can be Eaten Raw: No

Method of Consumption

  • Raw: No

  • Ripe: N/A

  • Both Raw & Ripe: No

  • Dangerous Form to Consume: Raw plant

  • As Food: Tender leaves are steamed and cooked as vegetable

  • As Medicine: Paste of plant applied to wound to speed up healing; leaf and stem paste mixed with papaya leaf sap applied to sores to treat them.

  • Cooking Without Prior Boiling: N/A

  • Boiling Before Cooking: Yes

  • Pickling: N/A

  • Brining: N/A

  • Fermenting: N/A

  • Drying for later Consumption: N/A

  • Overall Method: Steaming and Cooking

Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

  • Nutritional Benefit: Contains flavanoids, fats, and proteins.

  • Medicinal Benefit: Helps heal wounds and sores.

Tribal Wisdom

  • Tribal Wisdom: Paste of plant applied to wound to speed up healing; leaf and stem paste mixed with papaya leaf sap applied to sores to treat them.

Recipes

  • Tribal Recipe: Powdered root decoction is taken for skin issues.