,r\/*> - National Science Foundation

13. Sphaeranthus indicus Linn. Sp. PI. 927. 1753. (Fig. 131).
COMPOSITAE
Sphaeranthus indicus W\\\d.—Sphaeranthus hirtus Willd.—Sphaeranthus africanus Wall.—
Sphaeranthus mollis Roxb.
Sinh. Mudamahana; Tarn. Kottakkarandai; Hindi Gorakmundi, Mundi;- Sans.
Alambusha, Aruna, Avyatha, Bhikshu, Bhukadambika, Bhukanda, Bhutaghni, Boda, Chhitragranthika,
Kadambapushpa, Kadambapushpika, Krodachuda, Kumbha I a, Lochani, Lotani,
Mahamundi, Mahashvranika, Mata, Mundakhya, Mundi, Mundirika, Nadikadamba,
Nilakadambika, Palankasha, Parivraji, Pravrajita, Shravana, Shravanashirshika, Shravani,
Sthavira, Tapasvini, Tapodhana, Vikacha, Vridha.
An annual about 30 cm high with many long, tough, divaricate branches; stem
cylindrical, strongly winged with sharp-toothed decurrcnt bases of leaves, glandular hairy;
leaves simple, alternate without stipules, decurrent, sessile, 2.5—5 cm long, 1.2—2 cm broad,
slightly tapering to base, obtuse or subacute, sharply spinous-serrate, very glandular and also
with long white hairs on both sides, glaucous-green; flowers purple, all tubular, in groups
of 1 or more, larger, 5-toothed, bisexual flowers, slender 3-toothed female flowers and linear
bracts in compound heads which are ovoid^globose and I—1.5 cm across; bracts linear, as
long as the flowers, ciliate at the end; sepals absent; petals 3 in the female, 5 in bisexual flowers,
fused into a tube; stamens 5 on the corolla-tube, filaments free, anthers fused into a tube round
the stout style, sagittate at base; ovary inferior, about 1 mm long, hairy or glabrous, 2-carpell9ry,
unilocular with a single basal ovule, style arras filiform, connate in bisexual flowers, diverging
in female flowers; fruit an oblong—ovoid, smooth, stalked achene without a pappus.
Flowers almost throughout the year.
Illustrations. Wight, Ic. PI. Ind. Orient, pi. 1094. 1846; Kirtikar and Basu, Indian Med.
Plants, pi. 524. 1933.
Distribution. Occurs throughout India, Ceylon, Malaysia, Africa and China. In Ceylon,
it is common in moist places especially in paddy fields in the low country. Kurunegala, Jaffna,
Haragama, etc.
India. Chota Nagpore, Clarke 20817, Nov. 1873. Hughly Dist., Goghat, Musker 22,
March 1902. Assam. Jenkins. Bengal: J. D. Hooker and T.Thomson. Madras: Hook. f. and T.
Thomson; Coimbatore, Clarke 1 1532, April 1870. Ceylon. Thwaites CP. 1769; Megaswewa,
Simpson 8709, Oct. 1931; Pamunugama, Simpson, April 1931. Tenasserim and Andamans. Herb.
Heifer 3128, Kew Distribution 1861—2.
Composition. Contains the alkaloid sphaeranthine.
Uses, This plant is a pungent, bitter, stomachic and stimulant and is a remedy for
glandular swellings in the heck, urethral discharges and jaundice. It is useful for acute dyspepsia,
flatulence and colic. It also acts as a diaphoretic and stimulating expectorant and useful in
treating catarrhal fever, acute laryngitis and bronchitis. In India, the juice of the fresh leaves is
boiled with milk and given for coughs. The roots and seeds are considered anthelmintic. The
bark is a valuable remedy for piles'. The plant is also used as a fish poison. In Java, it is
considered as a useful diuretic.
69