About Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R.Br.
This species, Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R.Br., is a slender climber that grows twining, and sometimes takes a prostrate or semi-erect growth form. It has woody, aromatic roots. It produces numerous slender, terete stems that are thickened at the nodes. Its leaves are opposite and short-petioled, and vary widely in shape from elliptic-oblong to linear-lanceolate. The flowers are greenish on the outside and purplish on the inside, and are crowded into sub-sessile axillary cymes. Hemidesmus indicus is used to make beverages such as nannari sharbat, and is also used in traditional medicine. In the southern states of India, particularly Tamil Nadu, its pickled roots are served alongside rice dishes.
