Minnie Root Answer KBG-39

It grows wild on the road sides. Come rains and it sprouts all over.

Distinguishing violet flowers which are funnel shaped having paper like texture attract the viewer. But the buds are yellow in colour. In fact that was one of the clues which we gave for solving the nature quiz Kaun Banega Ghumakkad KBG-39.

The vine and the bud shown in KBG-39 were Minnie Root also called the Fever Root, Iron Root or Popping Pod. Its scientific name is Ruellia Tuberosa. As per the portal Flowers of India, in Marathi it is known as 'Ruwel' and in Tamil 'Chetapatakaayala'. See the picture below.

According to Wikipedia, its native range is in Central America but it has become naturalized in many countries of tropical South and Southeast Asia. All the pictures shown here are taken just outside our house in Secunderabad, India.

39th edition of Kaun Banega Ghumakkad online contest saw a bit subdued response with over 200 readers. Seeing the yellow buds, many readers got confused with the Honeysuckle plant. They probably did not read our second clue which said that the buds and the flowers have different colour! See the picture below.

The plant is also called Popping Pod because the pod containing its seeds pops out in water. Children pluck the dark coloured pods and put it in a bowl of water to see it pop!

Winner

We congratulate Ms Paneetha Mudholkar the lone winner of KBG-39. She has won the KBG contests many times. Prof Praneetha is a faculty member at VVISM Hyderabad in Marketing and Communication areas. She is a keen traveller and nature enthusiast.

Once again, we thank all the participants from different time zones. Without you Kaun Banega Ghumakkad would not have reached where it has! Hope KBG contest helped in taking your minds off Corona and the lockdown anxiety.

Special thanks are due to Dr Chitra Shanker for her continued research guidance.

Thanks for browsing and keeping the KBG going!

Stay connected, stay safe.

     - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad with Neeta Bhargava/ 23rd Aug 2020

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