Occurrence (Special Areas) :
Indroda Park, Ayurvedic Udyan, Van Chetana Kendra
About Andrographis paniculata Plant :
Habit : An erect, annual, 20 - 200 cm high.
Stem : Often winged in the upper part, base not pubescent.
Leaves : 5 - 8 x 1.5 - 2.5 cm glabrous, lanceolate, acute, never spathulate, main nerves 4 - 7 pairs, slender, petioles very small.
Inflorescence : Solitary or in axillary racemes.
Flowers :
3 - 10 cm, pedicels very small, usually pubescent, bracts 0.2 cm long, linear, bracteoles smaller or absent.
Sepals 0.4 cm long, linear-lanceolate, corolla 1.2 - 2 cm long, bilipped, white, tube 6 mm long, slightly enlarged, below the limb, upper lip oblong, 2 - toothed at the apex, lower lip deeply 3 - toothed. Anther bearded at the base, filaments more or less hirsute, flattened.
Ovary glabrous, styles usually pubescent.
Fruit : Capsules 2 x 0.5 cm, when young slightly glandular - hairy, when mature glabrous, 12 - seeded, linear - oblong.
Seeds : Rugose, sub - quadrate, yellow or deep - brown.
Flowering and Fruiting time : May to October.
Significance :
The fresh juice of the leaves is mixed with spices, such as cardamom, cloves, cinnamon etc dried and made into pills for use as a household - remedy for the minor digestive ailments of children.
The plant also holds good reputation as a febrifuge, alterative and bitter tonic, and is often used as a substitute for chirretta.
