Igorzen at 12:15, 17 August 2025

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{{Short description|Ten herbs important in Kerala}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2013}}

'''''Dasapushpam''''' ("''dasha''" meaning ten in [[Sanskrit]] and "''pushpam''" meaning flowers), or the '''ten sacred flowers of Kerala''', are ten [[herb]]s traditionally significant to [[Malayali|Keralites]], the people of [[Kerala]], [[India]]. These herbs are found almost everywhere in Kerala, especially in the [[Western Ghats]] region.<ref name=JinyVarghese>{{cite journal|url=http://aims.amrita.edu/school-of-pharmacy/pdf/journals/DASAPUSHPAM.pdf|title=Dasapushpam: The Traditional Uses And The Therapeutic Potential Of Ten Sacred Plants Of Kerala State In India|author1=K. Jiny Varghese |author2=J. Anila |author3=R. Nagalekshmi |author4=S. Resiya |author5=J. Sonu |journal=International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research|volume=1|issue=10|year=2010|pages=50–59}}</ref> They are used for decorative purposes, such as making the floral carpet [[pookalam]] during festivals like [[Onam]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/athappookalam-losing-traditional-verve/article173569.ece| title = ‘Athappookalam’ losing traditional verve - KERALA - The Hindu}} </ref> These ten flowers are also used to prepare [[folk medicine]]s in Kerala.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/potion-that-peps-one-up-when-it-pours/article4932504.ece Dasapushpam as ingredient for folk medicine]</ref>

==List==
The ten plants are:<ref name=JinyVarghese/>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Common name !! Binomial name !! Malayalam name !! Image
|-
| Slender dwarf morning-glory|| ''[[Evolvulus alsinoides]]''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.arkive.org/evolvulus/evolvulus-alsinoides/ |title=evolvulus alsinoides |access-date=2013-05-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915235820/http://www.arkive.org/evolvulus/evolvulus-alsinoides/ |archive-date=2015-09-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>|| കൃഷ്ണക്രാന്തി (''Krishnakranthi'')|| [[File:Dwarf Morning-glory (Evolvulus alsinoides) in Hyderabad W IMG 7978.jpg|200x200px]]
|-
| Indian doab or Bahama grass|| ''[[Cynodon dactylon]]''|| കറുക (''Karuka'')|| [[File:Cynodon dactylon.jpg|200x200px]]
|-
| lilac tasselflower|| ''[[Emilia sonchifolia]]''|| മുയൽ ചെവിയൻ (''Muyal cheviyan'')|| [[File:Emilia sonchifolia 4.jpg|200x200px]]
|-
| Morning glory|| [[Ipomoea|''Ipomoea sepiaria'']]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.irjponline.com/admin/php/uploads/1599_pdf.pdf |title=Ipomoea sepiaria |access-date=2013-05-23 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304185657/http://www.irjponline.com/admin/php/uploads/1599_pdf.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>|| തിരുതാളി (''Thiruthaali'')|| [[File:Thiruthaali.jpg|200x200px]]
|-
| Mountain knotgrass|| ''[[Aerva lanata]]''|| ചെറുള (''cheroola'') || [[File:Aerva lanata in Bhongir AP W I2 IMG 3064.jpg|200x200px]]
|-
| Golden eye-grass|| ''[[Curculigo orchioides]]''|| നിലപ്പന (''Nilappana'')|| [[File:Curculigo orchioides.jpg|200x200px]]
|-
| False daisy|| ''[[Eclipta alba]]''|| കയ്യുണ്യം(''Kayyunniam'')|| [[File:Eclipta prostrata in AP W2 IMG 9785.jpg|200x200px]]
|-
| Little ironweed || ''[[Cyanthillium cinereum]]''<ref>[http://eol.org/pages/595253/overview Cyanthillium cinereum]</ref>|| പൂവാംകുരുന്നില (''Poovaamkurunnila'')|| [[File:Cyanthillium cinereum - flower.JPG|200x200px]]
|-
| Biophytum sensitivum|| ''[[Biophytum sensitivum]]''|| മുക്കുറ്റി (''Mukkutti'')|| [[File:മുക്കുറ്റിപ്പൂവ്‌.JPG|200x200px]]
|-
| Balloon plant|| ''[[Cardiospermum halicacabum]]''|| ഉഴിഞ്ഞ (''Uzhinja'')|| [[File:Cardiospermum halicacabum 04.jpg|200x200px]]
|}

Although the Malayalam names refer to the flowers, the medicinal value lies in the leaves in most cases.

==Ipomoea sepiaria==
Extracts of Ipomoea sepiaria leaves feature antimicrobial activity. The extract was tested on bacteria including [[Staphylococcus aureus]], [[Klebsiella pneumoniae]], [[Escherichia coli]] and [[Pseudomonas aeruginosa]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ijrpbsonline.com/files/RS001.pdf |title=Antimicrobial activity of Ipolmoea sepiaria |access-date=2013-05-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305061851/http://www.ijrpbsonline.com/files/RS001.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==External links==
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/30510546@N03/sets/72157623499709113/ Photo Gallery of Dasapushpam]
* [http://www.keralaayurvedics.com/media/image-of-the-month/do-you-know-the-divine-power-of-dasapushpam-the-ten-sacred-herbs-flowers-give-a-healthy-mind-body-and-soul.html More details about Dasapushpam] in a website on [[Ayurveda]].
* [http://www.dasapushpam.com/whatsinsidecounts-1 Details on Oil made with Dasapushpam]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Medicinal plants of Asia|*]]

Dasapushpam - Revision history

Igorzen at 12:15, 17 August 2025