Aerva lanata

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Photographs by: Dr. Maulik Gadani

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  • Botanical Name : Aerva lanata (L.) Juss
  • Synonyms : Achyranthes lanata L.
  • Common Name : Gorakhdi, Sani Bur, Kapurimadhuri
  • Plant Family : Amaranthaceae
  • Plant Form : Herb
  • Occurrence (Sectors) : 26
  • Occurrence (Special Areas) : Indroda Park, Aranya Van

About Aerva lanata Plant :

  • Habit : Annual, diffuse, erect or ascending herbs, 15 - 50 cm tall, somewhat thickened and woody at base.
  • Stem : simple or branched glandular, hairy, striate.
  • Leaves : Broadly ovate, elliptic or obovate, acute or subacute at apex, tapering at base appressedly hairy on both surfaces, entire along the margins; petioles 0.3 - 1.6 cm long, pubescent.
  • Inflorescence : Spikes.
  • Flowers :
    • Flowers small, whitish or greenish - white, in axillary spikes on 2 - 4, 0.5 - 3.0 cm long culminating into interrupted panicles at the end of the branches due to suppression of upper leaves.
    • Staminodes 5; filaments pale - yellow.Stigmas 2.
  • Fruits : Utricle minute, broadly ovoid, subacute, smooth, shining, 1 - seeded.
  • Seeds : black, shining, smooth, acute at one end, with margins outside.
  • Flowering and Fruiting time : September - January.
  • Significance : The plant is said to possess diuretic and demulcent properties.