Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.

Taxonomy: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Equisetopsida > Apiales > Apiaceae > Centella > C. asiatica

Description: Herbs, rooting at nodes. Leaves orbicular-reniform, 3-5 cm across, crenate or sub-entire, glabrous, nerves radiating; petiole to 12 cm long, sheathing at base. Flowers sessile, pink, in 2-5 flowered umbels; peduncles 1-2 cm long, axillary; calyx tube 1 mm long, adnate to the ovary, lobes minute; petals 4, 1 mm oblong, recurved at apex, pink; stamens 5, filaments erect; ovary 2-celled, cell 1-ovuled, style erect, bilobed at apex. Fruit ovoid, reticulate-rugose, 7-9-ribbed.

Flowering and Fruiting: Throughout the year

Uses: Leaves, young shoots are eaten as vegetable. It is considered medicinal in stomach complains and usually used locally as liver tonic making curry with small fishes. Pounded leaves are used to treat wounds, cuts etc.

Cultivation: The plant is propagated by rooted suckers and seeds.

References

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org

https://indiabiodiversity.org