Scientific name: Desmodium heterocarpon (L.) DC.
Family: Fabaceae
Synonym: Desmodium polycarpum (Poir.) DC.
Bengali/Vernacular name: Banmethi, Karpo modi.
Tribal name: Koo-shey-dung (Rakhaing), Harma pada arsanga (Chakma), Turkimadan (Marma).
English name: Asian tick trefoil, Carpon desmodium, Asian ticktrefoil.
Description of the plant: An erect or suberect undershrub, 0.5-1.5 m tall. Leaves 3-foliolate, leaflets obovate-oblong, obtuse. Flowers numerous in racemose inflorescences 5-10 cm long. Flowers pink to purplish red. Pods narrowly oblong, 4-8-jointed, 1-2.8 cm long.
Plant parts used: Leaf, root.
Ethnomedicinal uses: A decoction is made with the roots of the plant is given for the treatment of cough.
The leaves of the plant are used in women’s problem, fainting, and convulsion.
A paste is made with the leaves and stems of the plant is applied on the fractured bone for making bandage, the bandage is replaced five times with a new one at three days interval.
Juice extracted from the leaves of the plant is used for massaging on the whole body once a day for three days to treat hysteria.
Distribution: The species frequently occurs in the forest areas of the districts of Sylhet, Dhaka, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati, and Bandarban.
Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….
