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Botany:
· An annual, erect, branched hirsute plant, 15 to 50 cm
high.
· Leaves: opposite or alternate, ovate to oblong-ovate,
somewhat hairy, acute or acuminate, base decurrent along the
petiole, 3 to 8 cm long.
· Flowers: calyx green, 3.5 mm in diameter. Stamens 5,
inserted on the corolla tube, included. Ovary completely or imperfectly
4-celled, 4 ovules, style terminal or leaf opposed, 3 to 10 cm
long, flowers all in one side, the lower ones opening first.
· Fruits: dry 2- to 4-lobed of 2 or 4 nearly free, more
or less united nutlets, 4 to 5 mm long.
Distribution
A common weed in waste places and settled areas, flowering the
whole year round.
Parts
used
· Entire plant.
· May be collected throughout the year.
· Rinse, use fresh.
Chemical
constituents and properties
· No taste, cooling effect, insecticide-antidermatosis,
· Leaves are emollient and diuretic.
· Stems and leaves contain tannin and an alkaloidal principle.
Uses:
Folkloric
· Skin pruritus, scabies: use pounded fresh material (quantity
sufficient combine with kerosene applied over the afflicted area.)
· Concentrated decoction may also be used as external
wash over afflicted area.
· Decoction of dried roots used as emmenagogue.
· Mastication of seeds for stomachic effect.
· Decoction of leaves for washing cuts and sores.
· Poultice of pounded leaves or bruised leaves applied
to wounds and boils; also, inflammed joints.
· Juice of leaves used for facial acne, gum-boils, sores
and wounds.
· Decoction of leaves and flowers used as gargle for sore
throats and tonsilitis.
· Flowers in small doses are emmenagogue; in large doses,
abortive.
· Decoction of roots or any plant part used for asthma.
· Leaf juice given to infants for cough.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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