Gomphrena globosa

Scientific name: Gomphrena globosa L.

Family: Amaranthaceae

Synonym: Gomphrena rubra Moq.

Bengali/Vernacular name: Botamphul, Golkamal, Gul-makhmal.

Tribal name: Cheai-lo-par (Lushai), Dah-apayn (Chak), Ching-ringpao (Murang), Meilingper (Pangkhoa), Murrow-bawn (Rakhaing).

English name: Globe amaranth, Bachelor’s button, Gomphrena. 

Description of the plant: An erect annual herb, up to 50 cm tall. Leaves 4-10 cm, elliptic, obovate-oblong or broadly lanceolate, base attenuate, tip acute. Flowers are numerous, densely crowded in globose heads, the heads are white, pink or purple, solitary, peduncled, 1.5 to 2 cm in diameter, subtended by 2 bracts. Capsule oblong-ovoid, compressed.

Plant parts used: Leaf, flower.

Ethnomedicinal uses: Decoction of leaves is used in cough, diabetes, and hypertension.

Decoction of fresh plant used to wash sores.

Decoction prepared from the flowers of the plant is used for inflammation of the eyes, difficulty urinating, headache, and dysentery. 

The leaves of the plant are used for the treatment of asthma, chronic bronchitis, and whooping cough.

Paste parepared from the leaves of the plant is applied on the forehead to treat headache.

Distribution: It is cultivated in almost all districts as an ornamental plant.

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