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8. Euphorbia hirta Linn. Sp. PI. 454. 1753. (Fig. 198).
Euphorbia pilulifera Linn.—Euphorbia capilata Wall.
EUPHORBIACEAE
Sinh. Budadakiriya, Dadakiriya,' Kepunkiriya, Kiritala; Tarn. Amumpatchaiyarissi,
Palavi, Patchaiyarissi; Hindi Dudhi; Sans. Pusitoa.
An annual with a decumbent, ascending or erect, cylindrical, rather stout stems,
15—30 cm long, covered with more or less copious spreading bristly hair; leaves simple,
opposite, 1.8—3.7 cm long, 0.6—1.6 cm broad, lanceolate—oblong, very unequal sided,
acute or subacute, serrate, sparingly hairy on both surfaces, dark green above, pale glaucous or
pinkish with prominent veins beneath; petioles short, stipules pectinate, falling early; flowers
unisexual, greenish, monoecious, small, numerous without a perianth, many males and one female
arranged in a common perianth-like, small involucre; involucres numerous, crowded in small,
axillary, shortly pedunculate, globose cymes, glands minute or absent; male flower of only 1,
pedicelled stamen; female flower of a single, pedicelled, superior ovary, surrounded by about
four male flowers, 3-locular with a single ovule in each chamber, styles 3, free or slightly connate;
capsule about 1.2 mm diameter, adpressed hairy, of 3 cocci separating from a single axis and
each splitting ventrally and dorsally; seeds 0.8 mm long, ovoid—trigonous, transversely wrinkled
and reddish brown in colour.
Flowers all the year round.
Illustrations. Burmann, Thes. Zeyl. pis. 104 and 105,/. I., 1737; Kirtikar and Basu,
Indian Med. Plants, pi. 846/4. 1933; Herb. Peradeniya, drawing.
Distribution. Occurs throughout the warmer parts of India, Ceylon and in most tropical
countries including Philippine Islands. It is a common weed in Ceylon.
India. Plan. Ganget. Sup., 7". Thomson; Canara, Talbot, July 1882; Maisor and Carnatic,
G. Thomson. Ceylon. Thwaites CP. 3337; Senaratne 3109. Central Prov., Peradeniya, Herb.
Peradeniya, Nov. 1890; Jayaweera 2249, May 1957; Pallekellay Estate, Livera, July 1922.
Maldive Islands. Did! 104, 1896; Gardiner, 1899—1900. Laccadive Islands. Minikoy, H. M. I. M.
"Investigatsr", Dec. 1891.
Composition. The plant contains the alkaloid xanthorhamnine, gallic acid, quercetin,
a phenolic substance, triacontane, euphosterol, phytosterol, a phytosterolin, jambulol, and
melissic acid. Both vegetative and reproductive organs yield hydrocyanic acid.
Uses. The fluid extract of this plant is used to relieve the difficulty of breathing in asthma,
bronchitis and in pulmonary, cardiac disease, angina pectoris. It is also a useful remedy for
acute and chronic dysentery. The latex is applied externally on ringworm. In India, the plant
is largely used in bowel complaints and chest affections in children. In the Philippines, the
leaves are mixed with leaves and flowers of Datura metel for preparation of asthma-cigarettes.
In Ghana, the plant is ground with water and used as'an enema for constipation. In Brazil, it
is used in decoction for gonorrhoea and for asthma. The roots are employed for intermittent
fevers. The milky juice of the plant is dropped into the eye for conjunctivitis and ulcerated
cornea. In Africa, it is employed as a remedy for gonorrhoea and the latex as an
opthalmic remedy.
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