About Getonia floribunda Roxb.
Getonia floribunda Roxb., commonly called Ukshi, has multiple regional common names: kokkarai in Hindi, Minnarakoti in Tamil, and Adivijama in Telugu. It is a large climbing shrub that reaches 5–10 m in length, with vines around 5–10 cm in diameter. The species grows extensively in low-lying tropical evergreen forests of the Western Ghats of India, occurs rarely in the Eastern Ghats of coastal Andhra Pradesh, is also found in the "Kavus" (Sacred Groves) of Kerala, and is cultivated in central and southern parts of India. This plant has grey bark, and its surface is covered in thick fluff. New branches are hairy and rust-colored, while mature branches are thin. Its leaves are keratinous, ovoid or oval in shape, and measure 5–12 cm long. Flowers grow in dense clusters at the ends of branches. The small flowers have ovoid or oval bracts covered in thick fluff, no petals, and 10 stamens arranged in two cycles. The ovary has one ventricle containing three pendulous ovules. The fruit is fluffy, sham-winged, around 8 mm long, with five edges and five persistent calices that enlarge into a fluffy wing 10–14 mm long. The sepals are prominent, hairy, and green. The stem and leaves of Getonia floribunda are reported to have medicinal properties. Forest-dwelling communities revere this vine as a life-saver during summer, when local streams dry up: sections of the vine store accessible water that people use to quench thirst. The leaves are described as bitter, astringent, laxative, anthelmintic, depurative, diaphoretic, and febrifuge, and are used for intestinal worms, colic, leprosy, malarial fever, dysentery, ulcers, and vomiting. The fruits are used for jaundice, ulcers, pruritus, and skin diseases.
