Morphological information

Perennial herb, c 0.5-1.5 m; stems erect, grayish, puberculous to sparsely tomentose. Lower inflorescence leaves bipinnatisect, 7- 16 x 5- 9 cm, puberculous or glabrescent above, appressed puberculous to tomentose beneath; primary segments 2- 3 pairs, ovate- elliptic to lanceolate in outline, to 5 x 2 cm, acuminate, with lowest occasionally stipuliform; secondary segments shallower, serrate- dentate with few deep, ovate, acuminate teeth. Capitula in broad or narrow panicles. Involucre campanulate, 1.2- 2.5 mm diameter; phyllaries ovate to obovate, 1.8- 3.2 mm, sub glabrous; outermost smaller, sparsely araneous. Female flowers c 3- 8; corollas 0.7-1.3 mm. Bisexual flowers c 6-12; corollas 1.7- 2.2 mm. Achenes +  oblong, c 1.2 mm.

Flowering          : September-December

Fruiting             : October-February

History             :

Parts                : Whole plant, juice, leaf and flowers.

Status              : Low risk

Status              : Vulnerable.

 

Medicinal

It is an important plant used in multifold occasions. Medicinally used in headache, asthma, stomachic and is an anthelmintic etc. taken bath with bruised leaves for healthy skin. Smoke from burnt leaves repels mosquito and insects. It stops nose bleeding, cures measles amongst infants, also used as antiseptics.

Whole plant: Antilithic, antiseptic, anthelmintic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, stomachic; helps parturition in measles, skin disease and ulcers; leaves: haemostatic and allays burning sensation in conjunctivitis; infusion in nervous and spasmodic affections of asthma.

Root: Antiseptic and tonic.

Traditional

 The juice extract of leaves is dropped into nose to check excess nose bleeding(T.N. Srivastava, Kapati et. al). The strong decoction of the plants is given to children with measles for a week (Kapati, Srivastava & Progress Report, 1999).

 

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