Nisoth / Indian Jalap
Operculina turpethum
Also known as Terpeth Root
- Habit
- Climber
- Found in India
- Maharashtra, West Bengal, Gujarat & more
- Flowering
- October-March
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Operculina turpethum
- Genus
- Operculina
- Family
- Convolvulaceae
- Habit
- Climber
- Habitat
- Degraded forest areas, also in moist localities in plains
- Habitat type
- Forest
- Distribution
- Old World tropics, introdued to Caribbean
- Found in India
- Maharashtra, West Bengal, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Assam, Delhi
- Flowering & fruiting
- October-March
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Leaf characters
- Leaf arrangement
- AlternaterecordedOne leaf per node, arranged in a spiral or zigzag up the stem.“The leaves are alternate, very variable in shape, ovate, oblong and truncate or cordate at the base approximately 5.5–15 cm long.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leaf shape
- OvaterecordedEgg-shaped, broader near the base.“The leaves are alternate, very variable in shape, ovate, oblong and truncate or cordate at the base approximately 5.5–15 cm long.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Typical of the family
Characters marked “recorded” are for Nisoth itself; the rest are typical of the Convolvulaceae family.
Flower & fruit characters
- Flower colour
- Whiterecorded
- Flower arrangement
- SolitaryrecordedA single flower borne alone, not in a cluster.“Its flowers are white, large, axillary, and solitary.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fruit type
- CapsulerecordedA dry fruit from a fused ovary that splits open at maturity to release seeds.“The fruit is a capsule up to 1.5 cm in diametre, with conspicuous enlarged sepals and thickened pedicles.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Typical of the family
- Flower symmetry
- Actinomorphic (radially symmetrical)
- Inflorescence
- Cyme
- Fruit
- Capsule
Characters marked “recorded” are for Nisoth itself; the rest are typical of the Convolvulaceae family — flowering plants only.
Local Names
- Hindi
- निशोथ Nisoth, निशोधि Nishodhi, nisoth, trivrit
- Nepali
- निसोथ Nisoth
- Bengali
- দুধকলমি
- Tamil
- கும்பஞ்சான் Kumpncan, சரளம் Caralam, சிவதை Chivatai
- Telugu
- తెగడ Tegada, త్రివృత్ తెల్లతెగ Trivrut Tellatega, తెగడ
- Kannada
- Aalutigade, Alutigade, Bilenagadanti
- Malayalam
- Chivaka, Rochani, Sarala
- Marathi
- Nasottar
About Nisoth
Indian jalap (Operculina turpethum) belongs to the Convolvulaceae family, where it grows as a climber. In India it has been recorded in Maharashtra, West Bengal, Gujarat and 12 other states. It grows in degraded forest areas, also in moist localities in plains. Flowering and fruiting run from October to March.
Convolvulaceae
Morning glory family
Nisoth belongs to the Convolvulaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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