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7 Eclipta prostata (Linn.) Linn. Mant. 2: 266. 1771. (Fig. 126).
COMPOSITAE
Eclipta alba (Linn.) Hassk.—Verbesina alba Linn.—Verbesina prostata Linn.—Eclipta erecta
Linn.—Eclipta marginal a Boiss.—Eclipta undulata Wall.—Eclipta parviflora Wall.—Anthemis
cotula Blanco—Artemisia viridis Blanco—Eclipta philippinensis Gandog.
Sinh. Kikirindi; Tarn. Kaikeshi, Kaivishiilai, Karippan, Karishlanganni, Hindi Babri,
Bhangra, Mochkand; Sans. Ajagara, Angaraka, Bhekaraja, Bhxinga, Bhringarja, Bhringasodara,
Bhringavha, Ekaraja, Karanjaka, Kesharaja, Kesharanjana, Keshya, Kuntalavardhana,
Mahabhringa, Mahanila, Markara, Markava, Nagamara, Nilabhringaraja, Nilapushpa.
Pankajata, Pararu, Putanga, Pitripriya, Rangaka, Shyamala, Sunilaka.
An erect or prostrate annual herb, often rooting at nodes, with many diffuse reddish
branches, strigose with adpressed hair; leaves simple, opposite, exstipulate, sessile, 2.5—6.2cm
long, 0.5 — 1.7 cm broad, lanceolate—oblong, tapering to the base, acute or subacute, faintly
serrate, strigose with scanty adpressed hair on both sides; flowers numerous, white, ray-florets
ligulate'in two rows, female (often barren), disc-florets bisexual, regular, both kinds together in
heads, about 7 mm in diameter, which are solitary or two together on stiff unequal peduncles,
involucre bracts about 8, ovate-lanceolate or oblong, 5 mm long, 2mm broad, acute or subacute;
ray-florets spreading, scarcely as long as bracts, linear, not toothed; disc-florets about 3 mm
long, calyx reduced to scantily hairy teeth; petals 4, fused into a tube and expanded distally,
segments spreading, minutely hairy on the inner surface; stamens 4, epipetalous, syngenesious;
ovary inferior, 2-carpelIary, unilocular with a solitary ovule at the base,stigma bifid; fruit an
oblong, compressed, 4-angled, truncate achene, about 2.5 mm long with 2 winged and 2 blunt
angles, sides covered with warty excrescences, top not carrying a pappus but sometimes with
minute spines.
Flowers from January to May and in November.
Illustration. Kirtikar and Basu, Indian Med. Plants, pi. 530. 1933
Distribution. Occurs throughout India, Ceylon, Malaya, Philippine Islands and other
tropical countries. In Ceylon, it is very common in wet places almost everywhere.
Egypt. Boissier ex Herb. Hance 475, 1846. India. Bengal: Clarke 26376, May 1875;
J. D. Hooker and T. Thomson; Calcutta, Clarke 3569, Jan. 1866. Madras: G. Thomson. Ceylon.
Thwaites CP. 1754; North Western Prov., Kalpitiya, Simpson 9158, Feb. 1932. Maldive Islands.
Veimandu, Gardiner, 1899—00; Kalukadili, Didi 62, 1896. Indo-China. Hue and vicinity, Squires
347, Jan.—May 1927. Philippine Islands. Alabat Island: Ramos and Edano 48262, Sept.—Oct. 1926.
Composition. Contains an alkaloid and nicotine. Nadkarni reports that it contains a
large amount of resin and an alkaloid ecliptine.
Uses. This plant has different uses in different countries. In India, it is used externally
on chronic skin diseases, ulcers, elephantiasis, conjunctivitis and to stimulate the growth of hair,
and internally for arthritis, dropsy and as a deobstruent for hepatic and splenic enlargements.
The root has emetic properties and is used as a purgative. In Malaya, Chinaand Indo-China, it is
used for checking haemorrhages in women after childbirth, asthma, bronchitis and externally as a
counter-irritant-in toothache and for strengthening of gums. In Assam, the leaves are applied to
sores and the juice given for jaundice, fevers and uterine haemorrhages. In the Philippine
Islands, a decoction of the leaves and flower tops is given for hepatitis, while in Java the leaves
are eaten and alsq used externally for ringworm and for tattooing to impart a blue colour.
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