Description

Dhobi Tree (Mussaenda frondosa), commonly known as the wild mussaenda or dhobi tree, is a plant of family Rubiaceae. It is a shrub that grows to about 1.5–2 m (4 ft 11 in–6 ft 7 in) tall. Like all other Mussaenda species, they have a large prominent white petaloid sepal in their flowers.

Characteristics:

Dhobi Tree is a shrub with broadly elliptic leaves, 7.5-13.7 long, 4.5-8 cm broad, tip shortly tapering. Base is rounded or tapering into the 2-2.5 cm long stalk. Stipules are twin, lanceshaped. Flowers are borne in flat-topped clusters in leaf axils or at branch ends. One sepal is modified into a creamy-yellow elliptic bract, pointed at tip, base tapering into a claw. Calyx teeth are linear, 1.5 cm long. Actual flowers are 3-4 cm long, golden yellow, tube slender, very hairy. Berries are obovoid, 1-1.3 cm long. Dhobi Tree is found in the Western Ghats. Flowering: April-November. The shrub may also grow as a scandent climber. The flowers are clusters of orange-yellow tubular flowers with one of their five sepals enlarged into a white petal-like form, set among pale green, oval leaves; berries follow the bloom. The erect, branching stem has a shrubby crown.

Medicinal Uses:

Dhobi Tree has been traditionally used in the treatment of White leprosy, eye troubles, skin infections, tuberculosis, jaundice, ulcers, wounds, cough and Bronchitis.