Nerium Oleander

Common Name - Oleander

Binomial Name - Nerium oleander

Tamil Name      - Arali

Date - 22 Nov 2015

Place - Race Course, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India

Uses

Ornamental

Nerium oleander is widely cultivated as an ornamental shrub or as an informal hedge in warm-temperate and dry subtropical regions, and as a plant for the conservatory in cooler climates.

Pest control

Oleander is highly poisonous to humans, pets, livestock and birds due to the presence of cardiac glycosides, mainly oleandrin. Ingestion causes nausea, vomiting, cardiac arrhythmias, hypotension (low blood pressure) and death. Its sap has been used as rat poison. The leaves also show insecticidal activity against sugarcane mite and citrus leafminer.

Medicinal

Oleandrin is used for treating cardiac conditions in patients who cannot tolerate digitalis. In traditional medicine, the leaves have been used for a variety of medicinal purposes, including the treatment of heart diseases, as a diuretic, antibacterial, and against snake-bite. The roots have been used externally in traditional medicine for treating cancer, ulcers and leprosy.

Other

In Western Sahara the ash from Nerium oleander is mixed with saltpetre to make gunpowder.