Rhinacanthus nasutus (L) Kurz. (Aniththa.) අනිත්ත

Name of Plant:  Rhinacanthus  nasutus  (L) Kurz. (Aniththa.)

Physical description:        A small slender under shrub stems 0.6 – 1.2 m tall.

Simple, opposite, decussate leaves. Flowers zygomorphic, bisexual, white.

Fruit capsule 1.2cm long, glabrous, loculicidally dehiscent

                                         With 4   glabrous seed.                  

                                         Flowers from January from also July to October.

Climate zone:                   Tropical Africa, Madagascar, Maldives Islands, India, Sri

                                         Lanka, Native to Java &Philippines.

Lighting:                          Under shade of trees. Dry low lands.

Soil types:                       Normal

Watering:                        Normal

How to propagate (i.e. leaf cutting, root cutting, etc.):

                                   Propagation though seeds & Stem cutting plant stem cutting of About

                                   12cm long with few leaves either in nursery base or nursery base with common nursery medium mixture

Sand    :           Soil      :           Compost

1          :           1          :           1

Burying the cut end about 1cm. below the soil surface 14 day days grown.

Propagation: Stem cuttings

Materials Used: Propagation media (1:1:1=Sand: Soil: Compost)

                          Scoop

                          Mother plant

                          Cutter

                          Water

                          Bags

Procedure for propagation:

·         Select suitable mother plant

·         Select good cutting stem

·         Plant stem cuttings of about 2cm long with few leaves

·         Should be in nursery bags or beds with common nursery medium

·         Burring the cut end about 1cm below the soil mixture

·         When well grown buds appear in 2 weeks

·         Transfer the rooted plants in to holes of 20x20x20cmin the field

·         Inter plant distance is 30x45cm