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CLASSIFICATION

ORDER	: Caryophyllales
FAMILY	: Amaranthaceae
GENUS	: Gomphrena L.
SPECIES	: globosa L.
BOTANICAL NAME	: Gomphrena globosa L.
SYNONYMS	: ---
COMMON NAME	: Globe Amarath.
TAMIL NAME	: vaadamalli.
HINDI NAME	: Gul-e-makhmal.

PLANT DESCRIPTION

HABIT :  An annual erect herb, much-branched, stems and branches thickened, stout, young parts grooved, geniculate, pubescent and often tinged with red; older parts terete and glabrous, greenish-red or yellowish-brown.

LEAVES :  Shortly petioled, opposite, oblong or oblong-obovate, acute, subacute or obtuse at apex, subcordate, rounded or tapering at base, entire along the margins, thinly hairy on both surfaces.

FLOWERS :  Small, yellowish-white or purplish, in solitary or terminal or fascicled spicate heads, globose, large peduncled, bracts 2, foliaceous, below the heads. Perianth of 5 sepals, unequal, lanceolate. Stamens 5, filaments united at the base to form a tube, which has 5 teeth, anthers 1-celled. Ovary 1-celled, 1-ovuled, stigma 2.

FRUIT :  Utricles ovoid, Seeds swollen, reniform.

FLOWERING AND FRUITING TIME :  September - March

MEDICINAL USES

It has wonderful anti bacterial properties. The whole plant methanol extract has been clinically proven to have anti bacterial properties against 5 “gram positive” bacteria that includes Bacillus Cereus and Staphylococcus Aureus.

The methanolic extract has has anti fungal properties against 3 fungal strains that includes Candida Albicans, Aspergillus Niger and Saccharomyces Cerevisiae.

The methanolic extract of the whole plant showed significant anti oxidant properties. Gomphrena globosa tea is very famous in many places and is consumed for it’s wonderful antioxidant properties.

IMAGES

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