Ageratum conyzoides

• Botanical Name : Ageratum conyzoides L.
• Common Name : Ajgandha, Mankadmari, Goat Weed
• Plant Family : Asteraceae (Compositae)
• Plant Form : Herb
• Occurrence (Sectors) : 17
• Occurrence (Special Areas) : Gujarat Forestry Research Foundation, Indroda Park, Ayurvedic Udyan, Van Chetana Kendra

About Ageratum conyzoides Plant :

• Habit : An annual, glandular - pubescent herb.
• Root : Well branched tap root.
• Stem :: Herbaceous, erect, cylindrical, branched, solid, hairy, green.
• Leaves : Ramal and cauline, exstipulate, petiolate, simple, opposite, ovate, serrate, acute, hairy, unicostate reticulate, green.
• Inflorescence : Capitulum, different capitula are arranged in corymbose manner, involucre of bracts is present outside the capitula.
• Flowers :
  • Sessile, complete, hermaphrodite, actinomorphic, penntamerous, epigynous, violet.
  • Calyx made up of 5 sepals, polysepalous, valvate, very much reduced, green.
  • Corolla made up of 5 petals, gamosepalous, tubular, valvate, 5 - toothed, violet.
  • Androecium consists of 5 stamens, epipetalous, syngenesious, filaments short, anthers long, dithecous, basifixed, introrse.
  • Gynoecium bicarpellary, syncarpous, inferior, unilocular, ovule one, basal placentation, style divided into two arms at the upper portion, stigmas two and blunt with flattened tip.
• Fruits : Cypsela, black in colour, sharply trigonous, glabrous or hairy on angles only.
• Seeds : Non-endospermic.
• Flowering and Fruiting time : October onwards.
• Significance :
  • The leaves are used in wounds as a good styptic remedy.
  • A fermentation of the leaves is used in skin diseases and sores.