Description

The bicolor Persian violet, Exacum tetragonum, is a species of plant in the family Gentianaceae. Bicolor Persian Violet is an annual herb. It is found in Western Ghats and the Himalaya, from Garhwal to Bhutan, S. China, Indo-China, Malaysia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist grassy forests, and it blooms in late monsoon. The plant likely is pollinated mainly by butterflies and other insects.

Characteristics:

Bicolor Persian Violet is an annual herb, 0.5-1 m high. Stem are quadrangular. Oppositely arranged, stalkless leaves are narrow, elliptic-lancelike or ovate-lancelike, with a sharp tip and rounded base. Flowers are large and showy, occuring in cymes at the end of branches. The four long, ovate sepals are joined together. Flower tube is long, with petals up to 2 cm long, broadly ovate, acute, white below, blue or pink at tips. Stamens 4, filaments equal, short, dilated at base. It is found in Western Ghats and the Himalaya, from Garhwal to Bhutan, S. China, Indo-China, Malaysia, at altitudes of 900-2000 m. Flowering: September-December.

Medicinal Uses:

For eye diseases, it is better to take this herb extract and apply it on the eyes. It is also used as a remedy for certain skin diseases, abdominal pain and urinary tract infections. Herb extract is also used by some doctors to treat diabetes because it is bitter. This plant has a bitter taste and a mild coldness. Bicolor Persian Violets are used as an ingredient in tinctures