Field identification and phytochemical uses of Oxystelma esculentum (L.f.) Sm.: A rare wetland climber of Odisha State, India

This study reports presence of Oxystelma esculentum (L.f.) Sm. (Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae), a very rare wetland climber from coastal areas of Odisha state, India. This is the first time report and the species can be identified in the field having characters like, a climber with milky latex, opposite leaves, pointed leaf tip, white (outside) and pink (inside) colored flowers, pointed petal tips with hairy edges, presence of pollinia, smooth follicular fruit with many hairy small seeds. The plant is restricted to abandoned, tide influenced canal and river banks of Subarnarekha River near to Kasaphal estuary, Balasore. The plant is host specific and more frequently found associated with Ipomoea carnea Jacq. and rarely with Ficus hispida Linn.f., Vitex negundo Linn., Ludwigia octovalvis (Jacq.) Raven, Clerodendrum inermi (Linn.) Gaertn. and Sesbania bispinosa (Jacq.) W.F. Wight, etc. This plant has strong phyto-medicinal constituents and used for remedies from cancer, hepatitis, kidney disorders, stress-related disorders and various microbial infections. Habitat degradation and loss of host species are two major causes for the disappearance of O. esculentum (L.f.) Sm. Habitat conservation and finding alternative in-vitro technique for its artificial propagation will help for long term conservation of this indigenous flora of the state.