Article Index |
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NILAPPANA |
1. Botany |
2. Chemical Constituents |
3. Medicinal Properties & Use |
4. Soil & Climate |
5. Propagation |
6. Planting & Aftercare |
7. Pest & Diseases |
8. Harvest & Processing |
All Pages |
NILAPPANA |
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Black Musale Scientific name : Curculigo orchioides Gaertn Vernacular name |
Botany
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It is a small herbaceous perennial plant belonging to ‘Dasapushpa’ group. Rhizome narrowly oblong, cylindrical and growing vertically, 4-5 cm long and 1 cm diameter. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, 30 x 5 cm; Inflorescence is a raceme with bisexual flowers towards the base and male flowers towards the apex. Perianth yellow, pubescent, 1cm across, lobes oblong-obtuse, stamens yellow and conspicuous. Ovary pilose, fruit narrowly oblong. Pods contain 4-5 seeds which do not germinate under natural conditions. Natural regeneration is through plantlets formed at the leaf tips touching wet soil. |
Chemical constituentS
The main medicinally active component is a phenolic glycoside namely, Curculigoside. In addition |
Medicinal properties & use
Parts used: Rhizomes Formulations: Musalyadi churna Viswailamusali kashayam, Musalikhadhiradhi kashayam Vidaryadighrta, Vidaryadi lehya, Marmagulika, etc. It is a reputed rasayana drug and a good aphrodisiac. Hence known as ‘Indian viagra’. It improves complexion and is useful in general debility, deafness, cough, asthma, piles, skin diseases, impo Use of dry powder mixed with ‘Triphala’ in honey cures leucorrhoea |
SOIL & CLIMATE
The plant is found throughout India from near sea level to 2300 m altitude, especially in rock crevices and laterite soil. |
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Propagation
Fresh terminal tuber segments of 1.5-2cm size, collected from field at the time of planting and used as the propagule. |
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Propagation using tuber segments | ||
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Natural Propagation from leaftip |
Planting & aftercare
Nilappana is a slow growing and less competitive crop. Hence sufficient care should be given for its initial establishment and growth. Since the tuber elogation is vertically upwards as the plant grows, earthing up two to three times is essential to promote tuberization. Frequent weeding is also required to check weed competition. |
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Pest & Diseases
Seedling rot observed during the rainy season can be controlled by spraying and drenching the soil with 1% Bordeaux mixture. Rhizomes are very often eaten up by rats and hence control measures against rat is essential to minimise crop loss by rats. |
Harvest & processing
Nilappana, which is a perennial plant, is cultivated as an annual or biennial crop. 1000-1500 kg/ acre fresh tuber is obtained when grown as an annual. Biennial crop yields about 2000-3000 kg/acre; medicinal quality also is superior for biennial crop. |
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