Full to partial sun. Performs best with direct overhead sun once established on a support. Juvenile plants tolerate partial shade at the forest margin.

Moderate, seasonal. Responds to wet-season moisture with vigorous vegetative flush but tolerates prolonged dry periods through leaf drop. Avoid waterlogging of the root zone.

Well-drained loam. Adaptable to a wide range of soils from sandy to clay-loam, provided drainage is sharp. Slightly acidic to neutral pH suits it best.

Temperature for Giloy?

20–40 °C. Thrives in tropical and subtropical warmth and tolerates hot summers to 45 °C with adequate moisture. Frost-sensitive above ground.

What is Giloy used for medicinally?

Stems (guduchi, amrita) are a foundational drug in Ayurveda used as a rasayana and antipyretic; Stem decoctions traditionally prescribed in chronic fevers, jaundice, and as a general immunomodulator; Aqueous and alcoholic stem extracts investigated for hepatoprotective, hypoglycaemic, and anti-inflammatory activity; Incorporated into numerous classical polyherbal formulations across Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani traditions

What does the scientific name Tinospora cordifolia mean?

Tinospora: From Greek elements suggesting 'stretched seed', referring to the elongated curvature of the seed within the drupe. cordifolia: Latin for 'heart-leaved', describing the broadly cordate leaf base characteristic of the species.

Plant of the day

Tinospora cordifolia

GiloyVine

Tinospora cordifolia is a large deciduous climbing liana in the Menispermaceae, native to South and Southeast Asian forests, distinguished by succulent warty stems, cordate leaves, and pendulous thread-like aerial roots. It is among the most extensively studied medicinal plants of the Indian subcontinent, harvested at commercial scale for the Ayurvedic pharmaceutical industry.

FamilyMenispermaceae

GenusTinospora

NativeAsia

LifespanPerennial; established clumps documented to persist for decades

Classification

KingdomPlantae

CladeTracheophytes

CladeAngiosperms

ClassMagnoliopsida

OrderRanunculales

FamilyMenispermaceae

GenusTinospora

SpeciesT. cordifolia

Binomial NameTinospora cordifolia

AuthorLinnaeus

Common NameGiloy

Life FormVine

Growth HabitVine

Taxonomic Hierarchy

KingdomPlantae

CladeTracheophytes

CladeAngiosperms

ClassMagnoliopsida

OrderRanunculales

FamilyMenispermaceae

GenusTinospora

Taxonomic Notes

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis belongs to the family Malvaceae.
The genus Hibiscus includes over 200 species of shrubs, trees, and herbs.
This species is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant.

Tinospora cordifolia

Classification

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Taxonomic Notes

Same Genus

Same Family

Related Genera