Selaginella bryopteris

Cladus: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Subdivisio: Lycopodiophyta
Classis: Lycopodiopsida
Ordo: Selaginellales
Familia: Selaginellaceae
Genus: Selaginella
Species: Selaginella bryopteris

Name

Selaginella bryopteris (L.) Baker, 1884.

Typus: non design.

Synonyms

Basionym
Lycopodium bryopteris L., Sp. Pl. 2: 1103 (-1104). 1753.

Homotypic
Lycopodioides bryopteris (L.) Kuntze; Rev. Gen. Pl. 1: 825. 1891.

Heterotypic
Lycopodium circinale L. ex Murray; Syst. Veg., ed. 13: 794, no. 25. 1774.
Lycopodium imbricatum Roxb.; Hort. Beng. 75. 1814 (nom. nud.) ex Griff. Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. 4: 475. 1844 [non Forssk. 1775..
Selaginella circinalis (L.) Spring; Flora 21: 220. 1838.
Selaginella imbricata (Roxb.) Scott; List Higher Crypt., 62, Jour. Agr. Hort. Soc. India, N. S., 1: 260. 1868.
Selaginella imbricata var. erecta Scott; List Higher Crypt., 62, Jour. Agr. Hort. Soc. India, N. S., 1: 260. 1868.
Selaginella imbricata var. normales Scott; List. Higher Crypt., 62, Jour. Agr. Hort. Soc. India, N. S., 1: 260. 1868.
Stachygynandrum bryopteris Beauv.; Prodr. Aethéog., 109. 1805.
Stachygynandrum circinale (L.) Beauv.; Prodr. Aethiop., p. 110. 1805.

References

Baker, J.G. 1884. J. Bot. 22(Za): 376.
Swale, B. & Hassler, M. 2001, 2002. Selaginella species A to D. Checklist of World Ferns. 2011 Sept 09 [1].

Vernacular names
हिन्दी: संजीवनी

Selaginella bryopteris, known commonly as sanjeevani and sanjivini booti (Devanagari:???????), is a lithophytic plant. It is used medicinally in India. The popular name sanjeevani which translates as "One that infuses life" derives from the medicinal properties. Sanjeevani grows on the hills of tropical areas, particularly the Arawali Mountain terrains from east to west in India. The dry plants have traditionally been used as an remedy for several human health complications for centuries in India, particularly by tribal peoples. Traditional uses include relief from heat stroke, dysuria, irregular menstruation, and jaundice, but the effectiveness has not been scientifically validated.[1]

History
Hanuman retrieves Sanjeevani by taking the entire mountain

In Hindu mythology, Sanjeevani is a magical herb which has the power to cure any malady. It was believed that medicines prepared from this herb could revive a dead person. This herb is mentioned in the Ramayana when, Ravana's son Indrajit hurls a powerful weapon at Lakshmana. Lakshmana is badly wounded and is nearly killed by Indrajeet. Hanuman was called upon to fetch this herb from the mount Dunagiri (Mahodaya) in the Himalayas or Valley of Flowers. Upon reaching Mount Sumeru, Hanuman was unable to identify the herb and decided to lift the entire mountain and bring it to the battlefield.

While some references in scientific literature list Selaginella bryopteris as the Sanjeevani mentioned in Hindu mythology, a search of ancient texts currently underway in CSIR laboratories has so far not revealed any plant that can be definitively confirmed as Sanjeevani. In certain texts it is written that Sanjeevani glows in the dark.[2][3]

Discovery

Associates of Swami Ramdev are studying plants of the Himalayas and searching for Sanjeevani.[4]

References

^ Sah N K et al., 2005, Indian herb ‘Sanjeevani’ (Selaginella bryopteris) can promote growth and protect against very heat shock and apoptotic activities of ultra violet and oxidative stress. Journal of Bioscience, 30, 499–505.
^ Telegraph India
^ In search of Sanjeevani, Current Science, Vol. 97, No. 4, 25 August 2009
^ NDTV Debate over Ramdev's 'sanjivini boots' continues, Press Trust of India, 05 October 2008, (Dehradun)