Blumea lacera

Scientific name: Blumea lacera (Burn.f.) DC.

Family: Asteraceae

Synonym: Conyza lacera Burm. f.

Bengali/Vernacular name: Shealmutra, Bara kukshima, Kukursunga, Shealmoti (Bengali); Healmutra (Noakhali).

Tribal name: Fao ma (Marma), Monimujja kher (Chakma), Amai sak (Tanchangya).

Description of the plant: An annual erect herb, hairy, simple or branched, very leafy. Leaves are elliptic oblong or obovate, stalked, and toothed or rarely lobulated at the margin. Flowering heads borne on short axillary cymes, spikelike panicles, Corolla is yellow and the pappus is white.

Plant parts used: Leaf and stem.

Medicinal uses: Juice extracted from leaves and stem of the plant is taken thrice a day (10 ml amount each time) for four days to treat fever.

Plant juice is taken for the treatment of bleeding piles.

Decoction made from leaves and stems of the plant is taken thrice a day (15 ml amount each time) for the treatment of bronchitis.

Juice extracted from leaves and stems of the plant is taken for the treatment of worm.

Distribution: It is fairly common in all parts of the Bangladesh.

Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….