Devil’s cotton

The scientific name of Devil’s cotton: Abroma augusta Linn.

Synonyms: A. augulata Lam, A. wheeleri Retz, Theobroma augusta L.

Name of Devil’s cotton in different languages:-

English: Devil’s cotton

Hindi: Ulatkambal

Malayalam: കരിമ്പരുത്തി-Karimparuthy, ശിവപ്പരുത്തി-Shivapparuthy

Tamil: Sivapputtutti

Sanskrit: Pishaacha Kaarpaasa

Plant description:

It is a shrub or small tree with velvety branches downy, grow up to three meters. Leaves 10-15 by 10-12 cm, simple, cordate, denticulate, base 3-7 nerved, upper smaller, narrower, glabrescent above, tomentose below; petiole 12-25mm, stipules linear, as long as the petiole, deciduous. The flowers 5cm diam., dark red, axillary and pedunculate; peduncle 3.5cm long, sepals 2.5cm, lanceolate, free nearly to the base. Petals scarcely exceeding the sepals imbricate in bud, deciduous. Capsule almost 4cm long,5-angled, 5-winged, glabrous, thrice as long as the persistent calyx. Seeds enveloped in light cottony wool, albuminous and numerous, seeds yields s fatty oil which is rich in linoleic acid.

Leaf Arrangement

Shape-Heart shaped	Margin-Entire	Venation-Cross venulated

Useful plant parts:

Roots, leaves, seed

Medicinal uses:

It lowers cholesterol level in blood, sores, uterine tonic, and abscess, regulates menstrual flow, regulates urinary troubles, bronchitis. Leaves are used for rheumatic pain, diabetics and sinusitis.

Chemical content:

Choline, betaine, beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol, octacosanol, beta-sitosterol acetate and long chain fatty acids, linoleic acid.

Medicinal properties:

Uterine tonic, ant diabetic, expectorant, uterine tonic and emmenagogue