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Desmodium laxiflorum DC.
Synonym
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Desmodium laxiflorum var. formosense
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Family
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Fabaceae
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Local name
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Malayalam- Unda-orila
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Flowering and fruiting
period
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September-January
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Distribution
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India
to Thaiwan, Malesia
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Distribution in Kerala
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Palakkad,
Kasaragode, Kollam, Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram,
Malappuram, Kozhikkode, Thrissur, Wayanad
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Habitat
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Moist
deciduous forests, also in the plains
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Uses
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The
plant is antipyretic, antiseptic, expectorant. A decoction is commonly used
to treat diarrhoea and dysentery; and to quench thirst. A decoction is used
as a mouthwash; and the crushed plant, or a poultice of the leaves, is applied
externally on wounds, ulcers, and for skin problems.
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Key botanical
characters:
Erect
herbs, to 35 cm high; stems angled, adpressed-hairy. Terminal leaflet to 13 x
10 cm, ovate, acute at apex, rounded at base, densely hairy below, glabrate
above; petiole 4 cm long; stipules 8 mm long, lanceolate; stipels filiform.
Racemes to 35 cm long, axillary or terminal; rachis hairy. Flowers solitary
or paired, pink. Calyx 2 mm long, hairy. Standard petal 6 x 3 mm, emarginate.
Pods 6-9 jointed; joints 4 x 1.25 mm, oblong, longitudinally striate.
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