Semmulli, vajradanti in Hindi, is porcupine flower, a spiny shrub of dry hedges with bright yellow to orange funnel-shaped flowers. Its name vajradanti, diamond teeth, comes from its use in tooth powders and for gum complaints, and a well-known Indian toothpaste borrows the name. It grows across India and Sri Lanka.
- Botanical name
- Barleria prionitis L.
- Family
- Acanthaceae
- Tamil
- Semmulli
- Hindi
- Vajradanti
- Sanskrit
- Saireyaka
- Parts used
- Leaves, Stems in lists
- Habit
- Spiny yellow-flowered shrub of dry hedges
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Semmulli
It is a bushy shrub, usually one metre tall, with sharp, four-pronged spines in the leaf axils.
The leaves are oval to elliptic, opposite and pointed.
Yellow to orange, two-lipped, funnel-shaped flowers grow in short spikes, with spiny bracts.
The fruit is a small, beaked capsule with two seeds.
Other Barleria species have blue, purple or white flowers.
The bracts below each flower end in sharp bristles, so even the flower spikes are prickly.
Traditional use of Semmulli
Household
Twigs are chewed and leaf powder is used to clean teeth and soothe gums.
Indian village practice
Ayurveda
Sahachara, as it is called in Ayurveda, is used in sahacharadi taila for joint and nerve complaints.
Ayurvedic practice
Garden
It is planted as a thorny hedge.
Indian garden practice
Modern notes on Semmulli
Leaf extracts show activity against mouth bacteria in laboratory tests.
The plant contains iridoid glycosides such as barlerin, studied in laboratories.
Clinical evidence for dental use is limited.
It roots easily from cuttings and survives long droughts, which makes it popular for low-water hedges.
Semmulli safety
The spines cause painful pricks. Herbal tooth powders do not replace fluoride toothpaste or dental care.
Ecology and sourcing
It grows on dry hillsides, scrub and hedges across India, Sri Lanka and tropical Africa.
Bees and butterflies visit the flowers.
Its capsules burst to fling seeds.
In much of India it flowers after the monsoon, through the cool season.
Related plants
Also in Acanthaceae
Questions about Semmulli
What does vajradanti mean?
Diamond teeth.
Is Semmulli used for teeth?
Yes, traditionally in tooth powders.
Why is Semmulli called porcupine flower?
It is covered in sharp spines.
What colour are the flowers of Semmulli?
Yellow to orange.
Is Semmulli a hedge plant?
Yes.
Can I grow Semmulli at home?
Yes, from cuttings in a sunny spot; it needs little water.
Is Semmulli a food plant?
No. It is a hedge and folk medicinal plant.
Sources
- Barleria prionitis L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q2737029 (Barleria prionitis)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.