Family: Asteraceae

Synonym: Emilia purpurea Cass.

Bengali/Vernacular name:Mechitra, Sadimudi, Sadusi.

Tribal name: Bel naw nuh (Bawm), Fao ma (Marma), Plowi pang (Murang), Mra-apang (Rakhaing), Dandha upon (Tanchangya).

English name:Lilac tasselflower.

Description of the plant: An erect or ascending, variable, smooth or sparingly hairy, more or less branched plant 10-40 cm high. Leaves sessile, somewhat fleshy and clasping, the lower ones being lyrate-lobed or sinuate toothed and 5-10 cm long, and the upper ones much smaller and usually entire. Flowering heads 12-24 mm in length and long-peduncled; the branches usually dichotomous. Involucral-bracts green, cylindric, somewhat inflated below, and about as long as the purple flowers. Flowers all perfect and tubular, the limb long, 5-toothed. No ray flowers. Fruit a cypsela.

Plant parts used: Leaf, root.

Herbal uses:The juice extracted from the leaves of the plant is taken twice a day (10 ml amount each time) until the cough and asthma is cured.

Juice extracted from the leaves of the plant is used remedy for eye inflammation, night blindness, and ear-sores.

Decoction prepared from the plant is taken for the treatment of bowel complaints.

A fresh juice extracted from the roots of the plant is taken thrice a day (5ml amount each time) for three days to treat diarrhoea.

A decoction made with the leaves of the plant is given for the treatment of cough, tapeworm, and roundworm infestations.

Paste prepared from the plant is applied to treat abscess, wound, and snakebite.

Juice extracted fromleaves of the plant mashed with salt and onion is applied to the throat for the treatment of tonsillitis.

Decoction prepared from the plant is taken twice a day (10 ml amount each time) until the fever and influenza is cured.

Distribution: The species is found all over the country in fallow lands.

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

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here