Botanical Name: Delphinium denudatum Wall.
Family: Ranunculaceae
Introduction:
Latin name : Delphinium = Dolphin - resemblance to the spur on the dolphin head; denudatum nude, unclothed.
Delphinium, common name for any of about 250 species of annual and perennial flowering plants of the buttercup family. Delphiniums are native to the northern hemisphere worldwide. The flowers, which grow on spikes, are usually blue or lavender, but white, red, and yellow species exist. The flower consists of five large sepals with four to six spurred petals at the center. The leaves are deeply divided. Some species grow to 2.5 m (8 ft) or higher. Many varieties have been developed as garden flowers. In the wild, some species contain poisonous alkaloids such as aconitine (see Aconite) that can cause severe illness or even death in grazing animals. Delphiniums are also called larkspurs, but the garden larkspur belongs in another genus.
Scientific classification: Delphiniums make up the genus Delphinium of the family Ranunculaceae.
Names in different Indian languages
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English |
Larkspur |
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Hindi |
Nirbisi, jadvar |
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Kannada |
Nirvasi |
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Malayalam |
Nirvasi |
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Sanskrit |
Nirvisha |
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Tamil |
Nirbasi |
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Telugu |
Nirvisi |
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Unani |
Jadwaar Khataai, Maatiryaaq. |
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Folk |
Synonyms
Nirvisha, Upavisha, Vishaha, Vishahantrika, Vivisha,Vtshabhava, Avisha, Vishavairini.
Delphinium pauciflorum Royle.
Classification according to Charaka, Susrutha & Vagbhata
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Charaka |
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Susrutha |
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Vagbhata |
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Varieties & adulterants - (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants)
Substitute for aconite.
Morphology
An annual her, grows 50-80 cm height
Leaves – pinnately lobed, finely divided into base, entire
Flower – blue
Fruit – follicle
Distribution & Habitat
The temperate Himalayas from Kashmir to Kumaon
Chemical constituents:
campesterol, stigmasterol, sitosterol, cholesterol, deltaavenasterol , denudatine, denudatidine, condelphine, talatizidine ,iso-talatizidine
Properties:
Guna : laghu, ruksha;
Rasa : tikta;
Virya : ushna;
Vipaka: katu
Doshatridoshashamak.
Karma -
Vishaghna, hridya, vranahara, nidrakari, arogyakari, balya,, agnidepakari
astringent, vulnerary, deobstruent, nervine tonic
Srotogamitva:
Dosha : Kaphaghna, vataghna.
Dhatu: Raktagami, mansavardhak.
Mala : Malashodhani.
Organ : Heart.
Indication:
Visha, kusta, kasa
fever, skin disease, cough, piles, leucorrhoea, vomiting, dysentery, gout, burning sensation, dyspepsia, cephalgia, worm infection
Part used:
Whole plant
Dosage:
Leaf juice 10-15 ml
Powder 2-4 g
Decoction 50-100 ml
Uses : Local application of nirvisha is the best antidote in poisoning by snake, strychnine and digitalis
Descriptions on Ayurveda books / Nighandu:
