Sphagneticola calendulacea (L.) Pruski

Family: Asteraceae

Taxonomy: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Asterales > Asteraceae > Sphagneticola > S. calendulacea

Common name [English]: Chinese Wedelia

Vernacular name [Malayalam]: മഞ്ഞക്കയ്യുണ്യം

Nativity: China to Central & S. Japan and Tropical Asia.

Habitat: waste places at sea level, on paddy ridges, in grassy fields and moist lowland depressions in the north, also common in littoral areas.

Description: Chinese Wedelia is a tender, spreading, and hairy herb, with the branches usually less than 50 cm long. The leaves are oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 2-4.5 cm in length, and narrowed at both ends. The margins are entire or obscurely toothed; and both surfaces are covered with sharp-pointed, appressed, straight, and stiff hairs. The heads are stalked, about 1 cm in diameter, and yellow. The involucral bracts are oblong-ovate. The ray flowers are 8-12, spreading, about equal to the bracts, and broad; the disk flowers number about 20, and are short, narrow, and pointed. The achenes are nearly cylindric, and hairy.

Flowering and Fruiting : March - September

Uses : Medicinal: The plant is mainly used for the treatment of inflammations, including abscesses and sore throat; it is also used to treat coughs. The fresh plant, combined with sesame oil, is used to treat elephantiasis. Other Uses: The leaves are used for purifying water.

Cultivation : Ornamental, Wild

References

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org

https://indiabiodiversity.org