Tridax procumbens

Scientific name: Tridax procumbens (L.) L.

Family: Asteraceae.

Synonym: Balbisia elongata Willd.

Bengali/Vernacular name: Tridhara, Tridaksa.

Tribal name: Bisalyakaroni (Munda), Mraa-praw (Rakhaing).

English name: Mexican daisy, Coat buttons.

Description of the plant: An annual or perennial, procumbent, hirsute, rarely slightly wooly herb. Leaves ovate, lanceolate-oblanceolate, petiolate, apex acute, base cuneate, pinnatisect, usually tri-lobed, or coarsely incised-dentate to serrate, scabrid-hirsute on both surface. The small creamy or white flower has five petals which are notched on the outer edges. The centre of the flower is yellow. Fruit a cypsela, silky, truncate at the apex, pappus of numerous, feathery bristles.

Plant parts used: Leaf, stem.

Ethnomedicinal uses: A paste is made with the leaves of the plant is applied on the head-skin once a day for seven days to treat hair fall.

Paste prepared from the leaves and stems of the plant are applied on the affected parts of the body to healing wounds.

The crushed leaves are applied to arrest bleeding in bruises and cuts.

Distribution: The species occurs throughout the country.

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