Urena sinuata L.

Family: Malvaceae

Synonym: Urena lobata var. sinuata (L.) Miq.                    

Bengali/Vernacular name: Kunjia, Kungooya.

Tribal name: Sampakpi (Manipuri).

English name: Burr mallow, Caesar weed, Urena burr.

Description of the Plant: An erect subshrub to 1-2 m tall. Leaves palmately deeply lobed, sinuses (curves) rounded. Leaves downy grayish pubescent with star-shaped hairs, 4-8 cm long. Flowers pinkish-violet, about 1 cm across, clustered. Fruit velvety and covered with hooked bristles.

Plant parts Used: Leaf, stem, flower, and root.

Traditional Uses: Decoction prepared from the leaves and stems of the plant is administered for the treatment of colic.
An extract prepared from the leaves and stems of the plant is given for the treatment of gallstone.
A paste made with the leaves and stems of the plant is applied to the snake biting place twice a day until the poison is eliminated.
Decoction of roots and leaves is used to soften the skin.
Flowers are used as expectorant; given for dry and inveterate coughs. 
Boiled and pounded leaves are used as poultice for bladder and intestinal inflammations.
Decoction prepared from the dried roots of the plant is used for the treatment of enteritis, dysentery, rheumatic pains, and tonsillitis.
The plant is used for the treatment of sprain, bruises, skin disease, gonorrhea, fever, malaria, pain, and inflammation.

Distribution: This species is found in Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Dhaka, Dinajpur, Gazipur, Kustia, and other places.

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