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