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CLASSIFICATION

ORDER	:  Caryophyllales
FAMILY	:  Nyctaginaceae
GENUS	:  Boerhavia L.
SPECIES	:  diffusa L.
BOTANICAL NAME	:  Boerhavia diffusa L.
SYNONYMS	:  Boerhavia glabrata Blume
COMMON NAME	:  Spreading Hogweed, Red Spiderling, Wineflower
TAMIL NAME	:  Mookkaratti
HINDI NAME	:  Punarnava, Satha

PLANT DESCRIPTION

HABIT :  A creeping, perennial, much-branched herb with stout fusiform roots.

STEM :  Branches divaricate, stem puurrplish, thickened at nodes.

LEAVES :  Opposite, oblique, ovate or suborbicular, rounded, entire, margis slightly pinkish, wavy, lower surface with small, white scales, base rounded.

INFLORESCENCE :  Small umbels forming Corymbose, axillary and terminal panicles.

FLOWERS :  Bracteoles lanceolate, acute. Perianth-tube constricted above the ovary, limb funnel-shaped, dark-pink, with 5 vertical bands outside.Stamens 2 or 3, slightly exserted, unequal.Ovary superior, oblique, ovule 1, erect, stigma peltate.

FRUIT :  Achene rounded, 6-ribbed.

SEEDS :  Minute, albuminous with perisperm. Embryo curved.

FLOWERING AND FRUTING TIME :  September-December.

MEDICINAL USES

Punarnava leaf juice is used in the eyes for topical application.

Punarnava leaves vegetable is consumed to reduce edema.

Seeds are tonic expectorant, carminative, useful in lumbago, scabies.

The seeds are considered as promising blood purifier.

The roots are reputed to be diuretic and laxative and are given for the treatment of anasarca, ascites and jaundice.

IMAGES

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