Chitraka
Plumbago zeylanica
About Chitraka
Chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica) is a herb used in the Ayurveda tradition to help with Digestive Issues, Metabolism, Arthritis, and Skin Health. The aerial parts and leaves are the parts traditionally used, used both internally and topically.
Botanical background
Plumbago zeylanica, commonly known as Ceylon leadwort, doctorbush or wild leadwort, is a species of plumbago with a pantropical distribution. Carl Linnaeus described the paleotropical P. zeylanica and neotropical P. scandens as separate species, but they are currently considered synonymous. Ceylon Leadwort is a herbaceous plant with glabrous stems that are climbing, prostrate, or erect. The leaves are petiolate or sessile and have ovate, lance-elliptic, or spatulate to oblanceolate blades that measure 5-9 × 2.5–4 cm in...
Source: Wikipedia, via iNaturalist