Pankaj Oudhia
Society for Parthenium Management (SOPAM)
28-A, Geeta Nagar, Raipur - 492001 India
pankajoudhia@gmail.com
www.pankajoudhia.com
Copyright © 2004. All Rights Reserved. Quotation from this document should cite and acknowledge the contributor.
Scientific Name: Spilanthes acmella Murr.
Family: Compositae
English Name: Pellitary
Hindi Name: Akarkara
General Description: A herb distributed throughout India. Since generations, it is in use as folk medicine.
Botanical differences between Spilanthes species.
| Characters | Spilanthes acmella syn. S. paniculata | Spilanthes calva |
| Plant | Annual erect or ascending stout herbs, 20-50 cm high. | Annual erect or ascending herbs, 15-40 cm high. |
| Leaves | Opposite, petiolate, broadly ovate, narrowed at base, acute or obtuse at apex. | opposite, petioled, ovate, acute, subcrenate at margins. |
| Heads | In axillary and terminal panicles; Involucral bracts 2-seriate; Ray florets few, in conspicuous; Disc florets companulate, Achenes dorsally compressed, black. | Ovoid, usually solitary; Involucral bracts ovate, acute; Ray florets absent; Disc-florets yellow; Achenes dark brown. |
| Flowering and Fruits | March-April. | November to December. |
Useful Parts: Roots and flower heads mainly.
Traditional Medicinal Uses: The flower heads are chewed to relieve the toothache and other mouth related troubles. Leaves are used externally in treatment of skin diseases. Root decoction is used as purgative. Leaf decoction is used as diuretic and lithotriptic. Whole plant is used in treatment of dysentery.
References
Agharkar, S.P. (1991). Medicinal plants of Bombay presidency. Pbl. Scientific
Publishers, Jodhpur, India : 200-201.
Verma, D.M., Balakrishnan, N.P. and Dixit, R.D. (1993). Flora of Madhya Pradesh
vol. I Pbl. Botanical survey of India, Kolkata, India : 612-613.
Pankaj Oudhia
Society for Parthenium Management (SOPAM)
28-A, Geeta Nagar, Raipur - 492001 India
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