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Botany
Erect plant
or annual herb, somewhat branched, about 0.5 to 1.5 meters high.
Stems are green and succulent, the vegetative parts with scattered,
stinging, and spreading hairs. Leaves are ovate, 5-15 cm long,
with tapering pointed tips and broad rounded bases, toothed margins,
with scattered hairs on both surfaces. Inflorescence is narrow,
axillary, slender, up to 20 cm in length, of numerous, short
paniculately arranged cymes. Flowers are small, crowded, green,
intermixed with pedicels of fallen flowers. Perianth of the pistillate
flower is 1 to 1.5 cm long. The achenes are straw-colored, compressed
and about 1.5 mm long.
The plant, particularly
the leaves is covered with minute, stinging hairs, which cause
intense itching. The hairs resemble a hypodermic needle with
a large bulbous base, exuding a poisonous substance when the
tip is broken.
Distribution
Introduced
weed in cultivated areas.
Parts
used and preparation
Leaves.
.
Uses
Leaves applied
locally for carbuncles.
Decoction of root used as a diuretic. vThe effects probably due
to the potassium nitrate content of the leaves and roots.
Decoction of roots used for asthma and coughs.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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