Common name: Curtain creeper, Vernonia creeper, Parda bel पर्दा बेल
(Hindi)
Botanical name: Vernonia elaeagnifolia Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower
family)
Synonyms: Vernonia eleagnifolia
This is a curious member of the Sunflower family. It is a creeper
which finds it difficult to climb without support. So, the slender
stems climb up and then fall down beautifully over a wall or
railing. The tender stems, all hanging down form a curtain, hence
the name Curtain creeper. Basically it is a foliage plant, grown
primarily for its habit of forming a green curtain. The species name
elaeagnifolia means, having foliage resembling Elaeagnus, pure
olive. Dirty white flowers appear in bunches. As is the case with
all members of the daisy family, these 'flowers' are actually made
up of many
small florets. Unlike the classic daisy which has two different
kinds of florets, the outer ray florets or 'petals', and the central
disc florets, members of the genus Vernonia have only one type of
floret. This creeper is easy to grow and is commonly seen hanging
over walls in cities. Curtain creeeper is native to Burma, widely
cultivated in India, and has also naturalized here. Flowering:
February-March. |
