Arctic Snow - Wrightia antidysenterica

Common Name :	Arctic Snow, Coral Swirl.
Binomial Name :	Wrightia antidysenterica
Family :	Apocynaceae
Bangla Name :	Kutj (কুটজ)
Photo Taken :	Bangladesh

Botanical Identity

Wrightia antidysenterica, commonly known as Snowflake Plant, Sweet Indrajao, or Arctic Snow, is a small flowering shrub or tree noted for its medicinal properties and decorative white blooms. It belongs to the Apocynaceae family and is native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The species name antidysenterica highlights its traditional use in treating dysentery and other gastrointestinal disorders. In Sanskrit, it is known as Kutaja, and in Ayurveda, it is revered for its healing qualities.

Plant Description

Arctic Snow grows as a small tree or bushy shrub, typically reaching heights of 1 to 5 meters. It has smooth, grey bark and opposite, oblong leaves with a glossy green surface. The plant prefers warm climates and grows well in sandy or loamy soils with good drainage. It can tolerate both full sun and partial shade, making it popular for hedges, ornamental borders, and garden landscaping. The plant is hardy and low-maintenance, responding well to pruning and shaping.

Flowers Characteristics

The plant produces elegant, star-shaped, white flowers, typically five-petaled, and sometimes lightly fragrant. These blooms appear singly or in small clusters and are especially attractive to butterflies and pollinators. The flowering is profuse and often continues throughout the warmer months. After flowering, the plant develops slender, cylindrical seed pods (follicles) that may split open to release seeds with silky tufts, aiding in wind dispersal. While its fruit is not commonly harvested for consumption, its seeds have traditional medicinal applications.

Uses and Medicinal Importance

The plant is widely valued in traditional medicine, particularly in Ayurveda, where its bark and seeds are used to treat diarrhea, dysentery, hemorrhoids, and skin disorders. Decoctions made from the bark have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Apart from its medicinal uses, it is favored in gardens for its clean white flowers and evergreen foliage. Its combination of aesthetic appeal and therapeutic value makes Arctic Snow both a functional and ornamental plant in many cultures.


Photos of this article were taken from the Brikkho Mela. It was the month of June from the year 2015.


Written by Lonely Traveler,
For blog icflora.blogspot.com