Phlogacanthus thyrsiformis Roxb. ex D.

Family: Acanthaceae

Synonym: Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus Nees.                    

Bengali/Vernacular name: Agnibasak, Rambasak, Tamrapuspi basak, Baghatita, Titaphul.

Tribal name: Dieng-soh kajut (Khasia), Chogro auk (Marma).

English name: Nongmangkha. 

Description of the Plant: A shrub, 1-2 m tall. Leaves dark green, glossy, 15-18 x 5-6 cm, oblanceolate, elliptic-oblong, tapering to both ends, subentire, glabrous, petiole 1-2 cm long. Inflorescence terminal, flowers born in thyrsi 10-30 cm long, orange red color. Fruit a capsule, elongate, sub-quadrangular; seeds much compressed, orbicular, brown.  

Plant parts Used: Leaf, stem, flower, and root.

Traditional Uses: Leaves of the plant are used as an expectorant in cough, bronchitis, and asthma.
Leaves crushed then mixed with smashed rhizome of zinger and little salt is dissolved in water, 100 ml of the mixture is taken twice a day for the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, and cholera.
The plant is used to treat rheumatism, and liver disorder.
Flowers of the plant are antidote to pox, prevent skin disease like sore, scabies etc.; it has also been used in jaundice. 
A paste made with the young shoots of the plant is applied to the affected area for the treatment of boils.
Curry prepared from aerial portion is taken with rice once a day until cure the fever.
Root is used for easy deliver of child birth.
Decoction prepared from the leaves of the plant is taken for high blood pressure control. 

Distribution: This species is found in Dhaka, Comilla, Noakhali, Khagrachari, Kishoreganj, and Sylhet districts.

Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….