Eclipta prostrata

Scientific name: Eclipta prostrata (L.) L.

Family: Asteraceae

Synonym: Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk.

Bengali/Vernacular name: Keshraj, Kesuti, Kalokeshi, Bhimraj (Bengali); Kalakaeichcha (Noakhali).

Tribal name: Kalasona, Halsona, Kalahuna (Chakma); Aang-kuntuei (Khumi); Bahushi, Krongmy (Marma); Seybong-sthei (Rakhaking); Banda-banda (Garo).

English name: False daisy.

Description of the plant: A prostrate to erect, often branched, annual or perennial herb, 30—100 cm tall. Stem cylindrical, green or purplish, rooting at basal nodes, Leaves opposite, sessile, oblong-lanceolate, also strigose and hairy. Inflorescence terminal and axillary, about 1 cm across, white or cream, ray-florets ligulate, disc-florets tubular, peduncles about 7cm long. Fruit a cypsela, densely warted, compressed.

Plant parts used: Leaf.

Medicinal uses: Paste prepared from leaves of the plant is applied on the boils, burning wound and foot mud sore once a day to treat it.

Leaf juice is taken thrice a day (2 tea spoons amount) for three days to treat irregular menstruation.

Paste is made with leaves of the plant are applied on the infected skin for seven days to treat leprosy.

Juice extracted from leaves of the plant is applied on the head to treat baldness.

Distribution: This species is grown in throughout Bangladesh in fallow lands.

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