Annamunthiri ആനമുന്തിരി
Botanical name: Passiflora quadrangularis.
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
Sanskrit: Kalambi, Mohini, Pothee, Upodika
English : Giant Granadilla, Giant Tumbo, Badea, Giant Passion Fruit
Hindi:
Malayalam: Annamunthiri, Akasavellari, Seemavellari
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
The Annamunthiri, is the largest of thepassionfruits, plants of the genus Passiflora. It is a perennial native to the Neotropics, having smooth, cordate, ovate or acuminate leaves; petiolesbearing from 4 to 6 glands; an emetic and narcotic root; scented flowers; and a large, oblong fruit, containing numerous seeds, embedded in a subacid edible pulp.
The badea is sometimes grown in greenhouses. The fruits of several other species of Passiflora are eaten. P. laurifolia is the water lemon and P. maliformis the sweet calabash of the West Indies. The fruit juice of the badea is used as a beverage.
A tea is made from the leaves which is used for high blood pressure and diabetes. The fruits of the plant is used for headache, nervousness, diarrhea, asthma, neurasthenia, insomnia and dysentery. A drink and ice-cream are made from the fruit.