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31. COMPOSITAE<br />
I. Ageratum cooyzoides Linn., Sp. PI. 839. 1753. (Fig. 120).<br />
Ageraium cordifolium Roxb.<br />
Sinh Hulantala; Tarn. Pumpillu.<br />
An annual, 30—90 cm high, with an erect, terete, branched stem which is more or less<br />
hairy; leaves simple, opposite or the upper alternate, 5—7.5 cm long, 2.5—5 cm broad, broadly<br />
ovale, subacute, crenate with ciliate margins, more or less hairy on both sides, base cuneate,<br />
petioles 2.5—3 cm long and hairy; flower heads small, in dense terminal corymbs; flowers<br />
pale blue or white, malodorous; involucre campanulate, bracts 2—3-seriate, linear, very acute,<br />
ribbed on the back, ciliate and with scarious margins, receptacle flat, naked or with caducous<br />
scales between flowers; pappus of 5 scales, aristate, dilated at the base, serrulate, about equalling<br />
the corolla; corolla all tubular, regular, the tube scarcely distinct from the shortly 5-fid limb;<br />
stamens 5. epipetalous, syngenesious, anthers appehdiculate at the apex, obtuse at the base;<br />
ovary inferior, 2-carpellary, unilocular with a basal ovule, style arms elongate, obtuse;<br />
achenes 2—2.5 cm long, sharply angled, sometimes glandular, attenuated at the base.<br />
Flowers from November to March.<br />
Illustrations. Kirtikar and Basu, Indian Med. PI. pi. 5I8C. 1933; Herb. Peradeniya,<br />
drawing.<br />
Distribution. A native of tropical America and now naturalized in all tropical countries<br />
including India and Ceylon. It is a vexatious weed in Ceylon.<br />
Egypt. Canal Banks, Shabetai, Nov. 1931. India. Khasia: J. D. Hooker andT. Thomson.<br />
Nilghiri and Courtalam: Hooker fit. and T. Thomson. Bengal: Kurz. Ceylon. Cultivated and now<br />
naturalized. Central Prov., Peradeniya, Bot. Gard., Herb. Peradeniya, 1887; Hakgala, roadside by<br />
patana, Willis, Feb. 1906; Bot. Gard., Simpson 8647 Sept. 1931;Simpson9090, Jan. 1932; Haputale<br />
Estate, Hyde, Nov. 1926. Maldive Islands. Kochchefai, Didi 73,1896; Male,Gardiner, 1899—00.<br />
Malaya. Singapore: Bot. Gard., Deschamps, Sept. 1900. Indo-China. Hue and vicinity, Squires 164.<br />
Jan.—May 1927. China. Hongkong, Chun 5152; Kwangtung Prov., Taipo, Ying 119, April<br />
1928. Java. Kooders 26495B, 1897. Sumatra. East Coast, Asahan, Krukoff 4062. Oct.—Nov. 1932.<br />
British Guiana. Appun 321. Philippine Islands. Luzon: Benquet Prov., Baguio, Ramos and Edano<br />
45042, March 1928.<br />
Composition. The leaves contain an alkaloid, a volatile oil containing sesquiterpenene<br />
and a vegetable principle known as "coumarin". The vegetative and reproductive organs of<br />
the plant yield hydrocyanic acid.<br />
Uses. The leaves are commonly used for wounds and sores. In Indo-China, the roots<br />
and leaves are a common remedy for diarrhoea and dysentery. The leaves are supposed to<br />
prevent tetanus if applied to wounds. In Brazil, a decoction of the plant is given for diarrhoea,<br />
intestinal colic with flatulence, rheumatism and vesical catarrh. In Central Africa, the leaves<br />
are used for healing wounds especially those caused by burns. It is also a purgative and the<br />
roots employed for colic. The plant is a household medicine in Madagascar and La Reunion.<br />
The leaves and stems are used as a fomentation in skin diseases particularly leprosy. A poultice<br />
of the leaves is applied on boils. A cold decoction of the root is used as a lotion for<br />
purulent ophthalmia.<br />
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