Achyranthes aspera L.
Common Name: Chaff-flower
Family: Amaranthaceae
Vernacular Names: Apamarga – Sanskrit., Nayuruvi – Tamil., Kadaladi – Malayalam
Synonyms: Achyranthes fruticosa Desf., Achyranthes sicula Roth., Achyranthes ellipticifolia Stokes.
Plant Description: A. aspera is a wild perennial erect herb. Stem is herbaceous but woody below, erect, branched, cylindrical, solid, angular nodes and internodes. Leaves are simple, exstipulate, opposite decussate, petiolate, ovate with unicostate reticulate. A spike with reflexed flowers arranged on long peduncle. Flowers are bracteate, bracteolate, actinomorphic, pentamerous, hypogunous, small, spinescent, green. Fruits are oblong utricle. Seeds are endospermic with curved embryo.
Distribution and Habitat: A. aspera is distributed throughout the tropical world. It can be found in many places growing as an introduced species and a common weed.
Uses:
A. aspera is used for dropsy, snake-bites, ophthalmia and cutaneous diseases.
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