Homalomena is a genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of flowering plants within the family

Family

In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...

 Araceae

Araceae

Araceae are a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like bract. Also known as the Arum family, members are often colloquially...

. It is estimated to be composed of approximately 80 to 150 species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

. Homalomena are primarily found in southern Asia

Asia

Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...

 and the southwestern Pacific, but there are a few species that are known to be indigenous

Indigenous (ecology)

In biogeography, a species is defined as native to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention. Every natural organism has its own natural range of distribution in which it is regarded as native...

 to South America

South America

South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

. Many Homalomena have a strong smell of anise

Anise

Anise , Pimpinella anisum, also called aniseed, is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to the eastern Mediterranean region and Southwest Asia. Its flavor resembles that of liquorice, fennel, and tarragon.- Biology :...

. The name derives apparently from a mi-translated Malayan vernacular name, translated as homalos, meaning flat, and mene = moon.

The plants of this genus are clump-forming evergreen perennials with mainly heart-shaped or arrowheaded shaped leaves

Leaves

-History:Vocalist Arnar Gudjonsson was formerly the guitarist with Mower, and he was joined by Hallur Hallsson , Arnar Ólafsson , Bjarni Grímsson , and Andri Ásgrímsson . Late in 2001 they played with Emiliana Torrini and drew early praise from the New York Times...

. The flowers are tiny and without petals, enclosed in a usually greenish spathe hidden by the leaves

Leaves

-History:Vocalist Arnar Gudjonsson was formerly the guitarist with Mower, and he was joined by Hallur Hallsson , Arnar Ólafsson , Bjarni Grímsson , and Andri Ásgrímsson . Late in 2001 they played with Emiliana Torrini and drew early praise from the New York Times...

.

The Tamils knew of this plant for more than 3000 years. It is called merugu (Tamil

Tamil language

Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...

: மெருகு ) and it is used for several purposes including curing stomach disorders, piles, flem etc. Several oils like kumaraguru enney; merugulli enney, merugu pachai enneyetc. are prepared to cure various type of diseases.

Homalomena wallisii

Homalomena wallisii

Homalomena wallisii is a species of flowering plant in the Araceae family from Venezuela. It reaches about 6" in height but with a much wider spread. The leaf blades are elliptic to ovate-oblong in shape about 5 - 8" in length, on rather short stalks, arching or recurving, bright-green in colour...

 is occasionally seen as a cultivated plant.

Selected species

• Homalomena aromatica
• Homalomena cochinchinensis
• Homalomena cordata
• Homalomena lindenii
• Homalomena magna
• Homalomena megalophylla
• Homalomena minutissima
• Homalomena occulta
• Homalomena peekelii
• Homalomena pendula
• Homalomena purpurascens
• Homalomena pygmaea
• Homalomena rubescens
• Homalomena tonkinensis
• Homalomena wallisii
  Homalomena wallisii
  Homalomena wallisii is a species of flowering plant in the Araceae family from Venezuela. It reaches about 6" in height but with a much wider spread. The leaf blades are elliptic to ovate-oblong in shape about 5 - 8" in length, on rather short stalks, arching or recurving, bright-green in colour...