Barleria prionitis L

Family: Acanthaceae
Botanical name: Barleria prionitis L
Common name: Katukarandu


Botanical description
A small shrub with sharp thorns.1.75 meters in height. Much branched. Branches cylindrical, swollen above nodes glabrous with slender very sharp spines in leaf axils, each with 3 -5 divaricate branches;
Leaves;
Simple, opposite, passing in to bracts above, 5 -13.5 cm long 1.5 -6.5 cm broad, ovate, tapering below, acute,mucronate, glabrous above, slightly pubescent on veins beneath withwith 2-6 pairs of arching lateral veins, prominent beneath;
Flowers;
Zygomorphic, bisexual, rather large 2.5- 3 cm across, orange, solitary, opposite, sessile becoming spicate above; bractlets 2 opposite, linear, 0.6 -1 cm long, mucronate, stiff almost spinous and spreading; sepals 4 in pairs outer pair much larger, ovate, 1.2 cm long, 4.5 -5 mm broad acuminate micronate, inner pair linear lanceolate, aristate, 1.2 cm long, 2 mm broad, glandular on both sides and hairy outside;
petals 5 fused in to a cylindrical tubular corolla tube 1.5 cm long hairy outside ,corolla lobes strongly imbricate, recurved, 3 outer lobes oval 1.5 cm long 0.9 -1 cm broad, hairy outside, 2 inner lobes smaller , oblong, 1.3 cm long, 0.7 cm broad obtuse;
Stamens 4, epipetalous , 2 reduced to staminoides, the fertile stamens exserted, filaments 2.5 cm long and hairy , anther 2 celled not spurred ; Ovary superior 3 mm long glabrous, 2 Jocular with 2 ovules in each loculus. Style 3.3 mm long, stigma slightly bifid;
Fruit; A capsule 1.4 cm long, ovoid with a long tapering solid beak;
Seeds; 2 with silky adpressed hair. (Dassanayake et al 1995)

Composition
Plants contain iridoid glycosides,(6 o-trans -p -coumaroyl-8- o-acetylshanzhiside Me ester), barlerin, verbascocide and beta sterol. (Ramanayake et al 2002)
Uses
The plant is a cholagogue and diuretic, and useful in acute and chronic congestion of the liver, jaundice, urinary and paralytic affections and in cardiac, renal and hepatic dropsy. It has anti rheumatic properties and gives excellent results in both acute and chronic rheumatism. The root is given in decoction form for enlargement of scrotum and rat bite poisoning. The plant is used as a snake bite remedy in Thailand.
Agronomic description
Propagation can be done by seeds and stem cuttings 2 to 3 node cuttings of 15 cm in length are most suitable for planting. Stem cuttings can be planted directly in the beds or Cuttings raised in poly bags can be used for planting.
Spacing 90 cm x 90cm.
Potential in landscaping
Produces attractive flowers. There are many varieties that produce white, purple, red or yellow flowers. This plant also can be used as hedges to prevent encroaching due to sharp thorns.