Morphological information

A diffuse glabrous shrub, branched from the base; branches 1- 3 ft, slender leaves 1/2 to 1 in diameter somewhat ovate orbicular, 3- 5 nerved from the base. Mucronate; petioles variable; stipule of several bristles. Flowers in axillary and terminal cymes; pedicels slender; bracts with membranous edge. Calyx obconic at the very base; sepals' oblong with 3 strong nerves, and membranous margins. Petals 2- lobed to below the middle, lobes narrow not exceeding the sepals. Stamens 3- 5 style short; ovules 3 or more. Capsule ovoid 3- gonous, shortly pedicelled, 3- valved to the base; 1 seeded. Seeds orbicular compressed muricate.

Flowering                       : May

Fruiting                          : May

History                           :

Parts                              : Leaves and whole plant.

Status                            : Low risk.

Phytochemistry              : Cordatanine isolated and its structure determined; palmitic, succinic and p- hydroxcycinnamic acids and α- spinaterol

                                         detected in Chinese plant.

 

Medicinal

The plant juice is administered in conjunctivitis. Despite the plant being effective in cough, cold and headache. It is also used as a medicine for snakebite, bug bite, also useful as throat paint in hay fever, asthma, diphtheria and pneumonia.

Traditional

The local people smash the plant and mix with hot ash and wrap in a fine cloth in case of cough and cold.The hot air  (smoke) coming out is inhaled in case of severe headache, cough and cold. The leaves of Dymeria cordata and Centella asiatica are given to children suffering from fever,(Project Report).

 

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