Kattukodi and Garudakodi - The difference

Kattukodi is a climber type plant which occurs in trophical and sub trophical parts of India. Though it is available in India, its availability is somewhat rare here. It is called as Kattukodi, Sirukattukodi in Tamil. Broom Creepter and Ink Berry in English. It is having so many names as Chillihinda, Dirgakanta, Garudi, Mahahala, Sauparni in Sanskrit. Its Botanical name is Cocculus Hirsutus

Its leaves are simple, alternate, triangular, egg shapped. Its branches are small and much branched. It is said that it flowers only in February and March. Leaves are slightly attached with the stem. Even with a shake of stems, leaves can be separated.

This plant is having a chemical Beta Sitosterol which can be used to reduce Cholesterol.

The Juice of the leaves solidifies water by making it as Jelly. This Jelly can be given to reduce Gonorrhoea. This is very cold in nature, and slightly sweet in taste. This Jelly can also be used to cool our body and also to control high urination in Elders.

In Tamil, it is called as Kattukodi meaning stems of the plant can be used as a rope which can even used to tie 20-30kg of dried woods. Even in recent decades, peoples of villages used that long stem as rope.

People nowadays confuse this plant with another plant Garudakodi. They consider both are same. But it is not. Garudakodi is called as Eswaramooli, Iswara veru. It is Botanical name is Aristolochia Indica. This is also a climber type plant, but eaves of this plant are somewhat longer and narrow in shape, not like egg shaped as Kattukodi. This is used as anti venom for insect bites. The above picture shows both plants. Kattukodi is in the left and Garudakodi is in the right.