Aak, Mandar, Rui Plant

Description

Aak Plant, Calotropis Gigantea, White Madar

A drought resistant shrub with milky sap. It is a poisonous plant but with certain medicinal uses. The pods come as twins.

Common Name Of Mandar, Rui, Aak

Hindi name – Aak, Madar, Akvana
Sanskrit name – Arka, Toolaphala, Vikirana, Asfota, Alarka.
Punjabi name – Ak
Telugu name – Jilledu, Mandaram
Bengali name – Aaknad

Arka (Calotropis gigantea, Mandar, Rui) is a perennial shrub growing 2.5 meter high with various branches and sub branches. Leaves are simple, opposite, sub sessile, ovate and cordate at base. It has bunch of waxy flowers that are white or lavender in color. Flowers consists of pointed five petals and a small beautiful crown, which holds the stamen. It has milky stem and contains cardiac glycosides, fatty acid and calcium oxalate.

Aak is known as “Arka” in Sanskrit. When we talk about the medicinal properties of this herb, it is mostly addressed with the name of Arka. Aak is a common Hindi name given to this plant which is familiar to the Indians as a perennial bush growing almost anywhere in the wild.

Planting and care

• In active growth, water freely especially if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week.
• Keep lilies mulched so that their roots are cool.
• The mulch should feel moist but not wet.
• Apply a high-potassium liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks from early spring until 6 weeks after flowering.

If its too shady, the stems will attempt to lean towards the sun or get spindly and fall over. Most of the popular varieties prefer acidic to neutral soil, but some are lime-tolerant or prefer alkaline soils (e.g.Madonna lilies). Loosen the soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches.