Elephantopus scaber

DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY
MEDICINAL PLANTS

Elephantopus scaber L.

Common Name: Elephant’s foot
Family: Asteraceae
Vernacular Names: Gobhi – Hindi., Aanaikaal – Tamil., Aanayadi – Malayalam
Synonyms: Elephantopus carolinensis G.Mey., Elephantopus sordidus Salisb., Scabiosa cochinchinensis Lour.
Plant Description: E. scaber is a small, perennial herb with spoon-shaped leaf. Stems are erect, terete and covered in stiff, white hairs. Flowers are compound inflorescence with many capitula. Fruit is dry, one-seeded achenes.
Distribution and Habitat: E. scaber is a tropical species of flowering plant. It is native to tropical Africa, Southeast Asia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
Uses:
E. scaber is used as a traditional medicine. Different parts of the plant are used in traditional medicine of India as an astringent agent, cardiac tonic and diuretic and is used for eczema, rheumatism, fever and bladder stones.

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