,r\/*> - National Science Foundation
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,r\/*> - National Science Foundation
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COMPOS1TAE<br />
14. Spilaothes paniculata Wall, ex DC. Prodr. Syst. Nat. Reg. Veg. 5: 625. 1836. (Fig. 132).<br />
Spilanthes acmella (Linn.) Murr.—Spilanthes calva Wight—Spilanthes lobata Blanco— Verbesina<br />
acmella Linn.— Verbesina pseudo-acmella Linn.—Acmella linnaea Cass.<br />
Sinh. Akmella; Tarn. Akkirakaram; Sans. Aggimala, Agragandha, Nadekanta,<br />
Nandikantha.<br />
An annual with a prostrate or ascending, much branched, cylindrical, more or less hairy<br />
Stem; leaves simple, opposite, without stipules, 2.5—4.5 cm long, 2—4 cm broad, ovate,<br />
suddenly tapering at the base, acute, faintly and irregularly serrate, glabrous above, scantily<br />
pubescent along veins beneath, thin, somewhat 3-veined; petioles 0.8—2 cm long, slender,<br />
pilose; flowers very small, yellow, ray florets absent, bisexual Rowers regular on heads<br />
apparently terminal but really axillary, surrounded by an involucre of reddish brown bracts,<br />
on long glabrous peduncles 3.5—6 cm long; bracts membranous, 4 mm long, lanceolate, keeled,<br />
subacute, pilose outside; calyx absent; petals 5, fused, tubular, valvate, somewhat inflated in the<br />
middle, 2 mm long,- lobes triangular; stamens 5, inserted on the corolla-tube, filaments free,<br />
anthers connate into a tube round the style, bases shortly pointed; ovary inferior, 2—2.5 mm<br />
long, 2-carpellary, unilocular with a solitary erect ovule at the base, style branches short, truncate,<br />
bifid; fruit a compressed, 2-edged, glabrous, oblong, dark brown, dull achene without a pappus.<br />
Flowers throughout the year.<br />
Illustrations. Wight, Ic. PI. Ind. Orient, pi. 1109. 1846; Kirtikar and Basu, Indian Med.<br />
Plants, pi. 532. 1933; Herb. Peradeniya drawing.<br />
Distribution. Occurs throughout India, Ceylon and other tropical countries. In Ceylon,<br />
it is common in moist places up to 6000 feet attitude. Ramboda. Hantane. etc.<br />
India. Bengal: J. D. Hooker and T. Thomson. Assam: Simons; Naga Hills, Prain\<br />
July 1886. Pen. Ind. Or. Herb. Wight 1607, Kew Distribution 1866—7. Ceylon, without locality,<br />
Thwaites CP. 684. Indo-Cbina. Hue and Vicinity, Squires 32: Squires 187, Jan.—May 1927.<br />
Sumatra. Burmemeyer 3672, July 1918.<br />
Composition. The plant contains an alkaloid and probably spilanthol, an active principle<br />
found in the Japanese form.<br />
Uses. The flower heads are chewed for toothache and the powdered leaves are rubbed<br />
on the lips "and gums for sore-mouth in children. It is an insecticide as well. The oil prepared<br />
from mature leaves with gingelly oil is used on burns and scalds. Internally, the plant acts as<br />
an aromatic stomachic ar.d expectorant and* is useful in chronic dyspepsia and bronchitis. In<br />
Indo-China, a decoction of the plant is given for dysentery while in the Philippines,, a decoction<br />
of the root is used as a purgative. An infusion of the root given internally has a diuretic effect<br />
and is reputed to be a solvent of vesical calculi. It is also used locally against itching and psoriasis.<br />
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