Scientific name: Cyanthillium cinereum (L.) H.Rob.
Family: Asteraceae
Synonym: Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less.
Bengali/Vernacular name: Kukshim, Shial lata, Dankuni.
Tribal name: Dando upon (Chakma); Proydoy-kamnnuch (Khumi); Hung fui (Marma); Zoo hu (Murang); Beun-shey-bawn, Willa-raw (Rakhaing); Chuyanti (Tripura).
English name: Ash-coloured fleabane, Purple fleabane, Little ironweed.
Description of the plant: An erect, more or less pubescent annual herb, stem and branches strait. Leaves slightly variable in size and shape, petiolate or sub-petiolate, lamina ovate-elliptic, obovate-lanceolate, acute at both ends, irregularly toothed or shallowly crenate-serrate. Heads small, in terminal corymbose cymes, pduncled. Flowers purplish or pinkish, sometimes violet-blue.
Plant parts used: Leaf and stem.
Medicinal uses: Decoction made from leaves and stems of the plant is given thrice a day (10 ml amount each time) until the asthma is cured.
Pea-sized pills made from leaves and stems of the plant is taken thrice a day (one pill each time) until the colic is cured.
Juice extracted from the leaves and stems of the plant is given thrice a day (2 tea spoons amount each time) until the gout and hysteria are cured.
Infusion is made with leaves and stems of the plant are taken for the treatment of cough.
Paste prepared from leaves and stems of the plant is applied for the treatment of eczema.
Distribution: It is found throughout the Bangladesh in fallow lands.
Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….
