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3. Anaphalis subdecurrens (DC.) Gamble, Fl. Madras, 695. 1921. (Fig. 122).
COMPOSITAE
Gnaphalium subdecurrens DC.—Gnaphalium . indicum Thw.—Gnaphalium semisubdecurrens'
Wall.—Gnaphalium oblongum Thw.—Anaphalis oblonga DC.
Sinh. Mahasudana.
A perennial herb with an erect, slightly branched stem 30—90 cm tall, covered with a
very thick, cottony felt; leaves simple, alternate, sessile, numerous, crowded below, distant and
much smaller above, 2.5—5 cm long, oblong, broad and stem-clasping at base, acute, margin
flat or very loosely recurved, densely covered on both sides with persistent cottony wool, 1 —
(rarely 3) nerved; flower heads small, 0.4 cm long, sessile, crowded in globular clusters
arranged in a usually close, cottony, corymbose inflorescence, involucre oblong—campanulate;
bracts small, not or slightly spreading, narrowly oblong, petaloid appendage acute, laxly cottony,
bright pink, receptacle naked; flowers bright yellow, numerous, all tubular; outer ones narrow
females; disc florets bisexual (often sterile); sepals reduced to bristles; corolla tubular with 5
valvate lobes; stamens 5, inserted in the corolla tube, anther bases sagittate, tailed; ovary inferior
unilocular with a single basal ovule, style branches of bisexual flowers obtuse or clavate; fruit
a small achene with a pappus of one row of rough hairs.
Flowers during April and from September to November.
Distribution. Grows along the Western Ghats and Pulney Hills in India and in Ceylon
in the montane zone between 4000—7000 feet altitude. It is abundant in the Uva'patanas.
Ceylon. Central Prov., Thwaites CP. 1762; Knuckles Hills, J. M. Silva 99, May 1926;
Hantane,/. M. Silva, May 1924; Rangala, Ferndale Estate, Alston 1510, Sept. 1927; Condegala,
Alston 1915, Sept. 1927; Hakgala, /. M. Silva 164, Aug. 1926; Maturata Patanas, A. M. Silva,
April 1906. Uva Prov., Haputale, Herb. Peradeniya. Sept. 1890; Namunukula, J. M. Silva,
March 1907.
Uses. In preparation of medicinal oils for removal of poisonous effects from the body.
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