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5. Bluraea mollis (D. Don) Merr. in Philip. Journ. Sc. Bot. 5: 395. 1910. (Fig. 124).
COMPOSITAE
Blumea lacera Trim, non DC.—Blumea wightiana HK. f. non DC.—Erigeron molle Don—
Conyza btfoliata Chamisseo and Less.
Sinh. Kukula, Kukuru-duru; Tarn. Kattumulangi, Narakkarandai; Hindi Janglimuli.
Kakronda, Kukkurbanda; Sans. Kukkuradru, Kukundara, Mriduchhada, Sukshmapatra,
Tamrachuda.
An annual herb with an erect stem 30—60 cm high, branched above, densely glandularpubescent;
leaves simple, alternate, ex stipulate, sessile, 2—7 cm long, 0.6—2.8 cm broad,
oval or oblong-oval tapering to base, obtuse or subacute, sharply dentate-serrate, finely stlkypubescent
on both sides; flowers all tubular in numerous purple heads, crowded in short cymes
forming a* large elongated inflorescence, stalks glandular-pubescent, involucre bracts in several
rows, narrowly linear, acuminate, glandular hairy; outer rows of flowers all female and the disc
flowers bisexual; sepals reduced to numerous bristles; petals 5, fused into a valvatecorolla-tube
3.2 mm long, lobes 5, spathulate rounded ,U apex; stamens 5, epipetalous, filaments free, anthers
1.5 mm long, fused, anther bases sagittate with slender tails; ovary inferior, 0.6 mm long,
2—carpellary, unilocular with a single basal ovule, style 3 mm Long and styler arms 0.5 mm
long; fruit a small achene, not ribbed but with a white pappus in a single row.
Flowers about September, October, December, January and May.
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Distribution. This annual grows as a common weed in India, Ceylon, Malaya, southern
China, Australia, Philippine Islands and in tropical Africa. In Ceylon, it is a common weed by
roadsides, edges of paddy fields upto an altitude of 4000 feet; Batticaloa, Kurunegala, Nalanda,
Katugastota, Hantane, Haragama, Bandarawela, Ella, etc.
Ceylon. Thwaites CP. 1735. North Central Prov., Kurunegala, Wetakeyapotha, Alston
1275, Jan. 1927. Central Prov., Nalanda, Alston 2407, May 1928; Haragama, Alston 461, Oct.
1926. Uva Prov., Bandarawela, Herb. Peradeniya, Sept. 1890; Ella Pass, Herb. Peradeniya,
Sept. 1890.
Composition. Yields a volatile oil which contains blume camphor. The leaf is rich in
carotene and vitamin C.
Uses. The expressed juice of the leaves is a useful anthelmintic especially for cases of
thread-worm. It is given for dysentery and chronic discharges from the uterus. Mixed with
black pepper, it is useful for bleeding piles. For renal dropsy, a preparation made by oxidising
iron filings in the juice of the plant is given with beneficial results. The plant, is also a diuretic
and useful for catarrhal affections. In India, it is also used as an insect repellent.. In
the Philippines, a decoction of the fresh flowers is given before meals for bronchitis.
It is prescribed as an antiscorbutic in West Africa. .
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