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7 Eclipta prostata (Linn.) Linn. Mant. 2: 266. 1771. (Fig. 126).<br />
COMPOSITAE<br />
Eclipta alba (Linn.) Hassk.—Verbesina alba Linn.—Verbesina prostata Linn.—Eclipta erecta<br />
Linn.—Eclipta marginal a Boiss.—Eclipta undulata Wall.—Eclipta parviflora Wall.—Anthemis<br />
cotula Blanco—Artemisia viridis Blanco—Eclipta philippinensis Gandog.<br />
Sinh. Kikirindi; Tarn. Kaikeshi, Kaivishiilai, Karippan, Karishlanganni, Hindi Babri,<br />
Bhangra, Mochkand; Sans. Ajagara, Angaraka, Bhekaraja, Bhxinga, Bhringarja, Bhringasodara,<br />
Bhringavha, Ekaraja, Karanjaka, Kesharaja, Kesharanjana, Keshya, Kuntalavardhana,<br />
Mahabhringa, Mahanila, Markara, Markava, Nagamara, Nilabhringaraja, Nilapushpa.<br />
Pankajata, Pararu, Putanga, Pitripriya, Rangaka, Shyamala, Sunilaka.<br />
An erect or prostrate annual herb, often rooting at nodes, with many diffuse reddish<br />
branches, strigose with adpressed hair; leaves simple, opposite, exstipulate, sessile, 2.5—6.2cm<br />
long, 0.5 — 1.7 cm broad, lanceolate—oblong, tapering to the base, acute or subacute, faintly<br />
serrate, strigose with scanty adpressed hair on both sides; flowers numerous, white, ray-florets<br />
ligulate'in two rows, female (often barren), disc-florets bisexual, regular, both kinds together in<br />
heads, about 7 mm in diameter, which are solitary or two together on stiff unequal peduncles,<br />
involucre bracts about 8, ovate-lanceolate or oblong, 5 mm long, 2mm broad, acute or subacute;<br />
ray-florets spreading, scarcely as long as bracts, linear, not toothed; disc-florets about 3 mm<br />
long, calyx reduced to scantily hairy teeth; petals 4, fused into a tube and expanded distally,<br />
segments spreading, minutely hairy on the inner surface; stamens 4, epipetalous, syngenesious;<br />
ovary inferior, 2-carpelIary, unilocular with a solitary ovule at the base,stigma bifid; fruit an<br />
oblong, compressed, 4-angled, truncate achene, about 2.5 mm long with 2 winged and 2 blunt<br />
angles, sides covered with warty excrescences, top not carrying a pappus but sometimes with<br />
minute spines.<br />
Flowers from January to May and in November.<br />
Illustration. Kirtikar and Basu, Indian Med. Plants, pi. 530. 1933<br />
Distribution. Occurs throughout India, Ceylon, Malaya, Philippine Islands and other<br />
tropical countries. In Ceylon, it is very common in wet places almost everywhere.<br />
Egypt. Boissier ex Herb. Hance 475, 1846. India. Bengal: Clarke 26376, May 1875;<br />
J. D. Hooker and T. Thomson; Calcutta, Clarke 3569, Jan. 1866. Madras: G. Thomson. Ceylon.<br />
Thwaites CP. 1754; North Western Prov., Kalpitiya, Simpson 9158, Feb. 1932. Maldive Islands.<br />
Veimandu, Gardiner, 1899—00; Kalukadili, Didi 62, 1896. Indo-China. Hue and vicinity, Squires<br />
347, Jan.—May 1927. Philippine Islands. Alabat Island: Ramos and Edano 48262, Sept.—Oct. 1926.<br />
Composition. Contains an alkaloid and nicotine. Nadkarni reports that it contains a<br />
large amount of resin and an alkaloid ecliptine.<br />
Uses. This plant has different uses in different countries. In India, it is used externally<br />
on chronic skin diseases, ulcers, elephantiasis, conjunctivitis and to stimulate the growth of hair,<br />
and internally for arthritis, dropsy and as a deobstruent for hepatic and splenic enlargements.<br />
The root has emetic properties and is used as a purgative. In Malaya, Chinaand Indo-China, it is<br />
used for checking haemorrhages in women after childbirth, asthma, bronchitis and externally as a<br />
counter-irritant-in toothache and for strengthening of gums. In Assam, the leaves are applied to<br />
sores and the juice given for jaundice, fevers and uterine haemorrhages. In the Philippine<br />
Islands, a decoction of the leaves and flower tops is given for hepatitis, while in Java the leaves<br />
are eaten and alsq used externally for ringworm and for tattooing to impart a blue colour.<br />
57