1469

 Polycarpaea aurea Wight & Arn.

Family	:	Caryophyllaceae
Flowering and fruiting period	:	September-February
Distribution	:	South India
Distribution in Kerala	:	Kottayam, Kasaragode, Malappuram, Kozhikkode
Habitat	:	Dry laterite rocks
Endemic/Exotic	:	Endemic to Peninsular India
Uses	:	It was traditionally claimed as anti-diabetic, anti-dysentery, diaphoretic, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti diarrhoeal effect.
Key botanical characters: Annual erect herbs,  Leaves opposite, rarely pseudoverticillate due to presence of a few secondary leaves in axils, sessile, linear, obtuse at base, entire at margin, mucronate at apex,  Inflorescences irregular lax cymes. Flowers ca 3 mm long; bracteoles ovate-lanceolate, entire, acute, grey with a faint brownish tinge; Sepals 5, free, ovate-lanceolate, entire, acute,  exceeding petals and capsules, scarious, reddish brown. Petals 5, free, , shining, brown. Stamens 5,   free . Capsules ovoid-elliptic, small-stiped, 3-valved; tips faintly incurved when young, recurved after dehiscence; seeds 3-5.