Aeginetia indica L.
Family – Orobanchaceae
Common name – Forest ghost flower
Habit – Holoparasitic herb
Habitat – moist deciduous, Shaded forest floor covered with leaf litter.
(Photo credit – Sweta Mishra)
Note – The entire plant is placed in shrines or on altars during Teej festival as a symbol of Shiva & Parvati in Nepal, Eastern Himalayas.
Medicinal uses – It is used as a traditional folk medicine in Taiwan & other countries to treat diabetes.
Sugimani Marndi
(Biodiversity and Conservation Lab., Ambika Prasad Research Foundation, Cuttack, Odisha)