The plant, botanically known as cosinium phenestratum, is used in ayurveda and siddha medicine for treating diabetes. The stem of the plant carries the medicinal value. The plant costs Rs 500 per kg because of its medicinal value.
The plant is widely seen in the forests of the Western Ghats. Task Force Chairman Ananth Hegde Ashisar said in Hulikal Ghat, a place in Nagara hobli in Hosanagar taluk alone, the plants were spread in an area of 100 acres. All these years the Forest Department had been auctioning the plant as forest produce. The department had been asked to stop auctioning of the plant and conserve the area.
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