1147

 Cyathula prostrata (L.) Blume

 

Synonym	:	Cyathula prostrata var. achyranthoides  (Kunth) Kuntze
Family	:	Amaranthaceae
Local name	:	Malayalam  -   Cherukadaladi
Flowering and fruiting period	:	September-April
Distribution	:	Pantropical
Distribution in kerala	:	All Districts
Habitat	:	Moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests     also in  the plains
Uses	:	The aerial parts in decoction are drunk against cough, and a decoction of the roots is used against dysentery. As a plaster, it is used for caterpillar itch, around the neck for cough and on the belly for intestinal worms or shingles
Key Botanical Characters :  Decumbent herbs. Leaves simple, opposite,. Spike terminal, to 18 cm long, slender, solitary. Flowers in groups of 3-5 of which one perfect and others neutor; bracts and bracteoles similar, 1.5 mm long, lanceolate, acuminate, pubescent. Tepals 5, free, 3 x 1 mm, elliptic, acute, hooked awn like in neutor flowers. Stamens 5, , alternate with stamens, fimbriate. Ovary ovoid, style simple, stigma capitellate. Achenes obovoid, compressed, golden brown.