Cracker Plant

Description:

It is a small biennial plant with thick fusiform tuberous roots and striking funnel-shaped violet-colored flowers. It reaches an average height of about 25 cm in moist and shady environments. It grows often as a weed even in ruderal habitats. Its names Popping Pod, Duppy Gun and Cracker Plant come from the fact that children like to play with the dry pods that pop when rubbed with spit or water.

Habitat:

In animal models, this plant has antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties. In folk medicine and Ayurvedic medicine it has been used as a diuretic, anti-diabetic, antipyretic, analgesic, antihypertensive, gastroprotective, and to treat gonorrhea. It is also used as a natural dye for textiles. Some butterfly species, like the Lemon Pansy (Junonia lemonias) and the Mangrove Buckeye (Junonia genoveva), feed on the leaves of Ruellia tuberosa.

Notes:

Seed-pond blast on being wet, watch sample video, Adding this one to Global Schoolyard Bioblitz! as with the help of school boys I get notice this plant's seed-pond characteristic of blasting on being wet, and those boys are very curious about explaining me they also help me out to make video of seed-pond which I had shared here, I had also some other clips of this seed-pond in which those schoolboys helping me to show blasting effect. as summer vacation had started over here they use to visit garden and explore nature with their eyes/views. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apK6S5o6I... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMRRi5dVI...