,r\/*> - National Science Foundation

15. Vernonia antbelmintlca (L.) Willd.. Sp. PI. 3: 1634. 1800 (Fig. 133).
COMPOSITAE
Centratherum anthelminticum O. Ktze.—C'onyza anthelmintica Linn.—Serratuta anthelmintica
Roxb.—Ascaricida indica Cass.
Engl. Purple Fleabane; Sinh. Sanninayan; Tain. Kattuchiragam, Neychitti. Nirnochi
Siltilai; Hindi Bakshi, Buckshi, Kalijhiri, Kaliziri, Somaraj, Vapchi; Sans. Agnibija, Aranya*
jiraka, Avalguja, Atavijiraka, Brihanyali, Kana. Kananajiraka, Krishnaphala, Kshudrapatra,
Putiphali, Somraji. Tikiajiraka. Vakushi, Vanajiraka.
A stout, much branched annual with cylindrical, striate, finely pubescent stems, 60—90 cm
tall; leaves simple, alternate without stipules, 6.5—10 cm long, 2.5—4.5 cm broad, lanceolate or
elliptic—lanceolate, much tapering to base, acute, coarsely and sharply serrate, pubescent on
both sides with glands embedded in the epidermis: flowers regular, bisexual, pale violet, sessile,
all tubular, numerous in large solitary heads, peduncles thickened upwards: involucre bracts
linear or oblong-linear, acute, the outer ones pilose, inner ones shorter, often tipped with purple,
spreading, all ultimately reflexed after fruiting; sepals reduced to hairy bristles; petals 5, fused
into a tube about 8 mm long and slender, corolla lobes I 5 mm long, narrowly triangular and
deep; stamens 5 on the corolla-tube, filaments free, anthers fused to form a tube round the style,
anther cells not tailed at base; ovary inferior, 2 mm long, hairy, 2-carpellary, unilocular with a
single basal ovule, style bifid, arms subulate, hairy; fruit a slightly hairy, 10-ribbed, black achene
with a short, pale red, sub-deciduous pappus where the outer row is very short, scale-like and
persistent.
Flowers from December to March.
Illustrations. Burmann, Thes, Zeyl. pi. 95. 1737; Kirtikar and Basu, Indian Med Plants,
pi. 5\5A, 1933: Herb. Peradeniya, drawing.
Distribution. Occurs as a weed throughout India, Ceylon and Malay Peninsula. In
Ceylon, it is common in waste ground in the dry regions especially near houses and along
roadsides but is nowhere indigenous. Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Gatagama, Lunugala, etc.
India. Bengal: J. D. Hooker and T. Thomson; Chota Nagpore, Clarke 20278/4, Oct.
1873; Basia, Clarke 341025, Nov. 1883. Pen. Ind. Or., Herb. Wight 1521, Kew Distribution
1866—7. Ceylon. North Western Prov., Puttalam-Anuradhapura Road, Simpson 9164, Feb.
1932. North Central Prov., Anuradhapura, Alston 1057, March 1927; Galagama, Thwaites
CP. 487. Uva Prov., near Lunugala, Herb. Peradeniya, Jan. 1888.
Uses. Used for fever and convulsions. It stimulates the appetite and improves
digestion. It is useful in anorexia, atonic dyspepsia and flatulence. The seeds are considered
to possess anthelmintic, diuretic and stomachic properties. They are administered for intestinal
colic and dysuria. The powdered seed is applied externally for paralysis. In the Malabar coast,
an infusion of the seeds is given for coughs and flatulence.
73