Mandar, Rui Plant

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.