Chandigarh Forests
Department of Forest & Wildlife
UT Administration
Chandigarh
Department of Forest & Wildlife
|
Division
|
Angiosperms |
|
Class
|
Dicotyledons |
|
Subclass |
Gamopetalae |
|
Series |
Hypogynae |
|
Order |
Personales |
|
Family
|
Acanthaceae |
|
Genus
|
Andrographis |
|
Species
|
paniculata |
|
Etymology: |
Derived from Greek word “andros” male and “grapho”, to write; e.g. A.paniculata. |
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Botanical name
|
Andrographis paniculata Wall. ex Nees. |
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Local/Trade names:
|
Creat, Kariyat, King of bitters, Kalmegh |
|
Description: |
A much branched, erect, annual herb. Branches 4-angled. Leaves lance- shaped, Inflorescence is axillary or terminal raceme or panicle. Flowers small, rose coloured. Capsule linear-oblong, acute at both ends. Seeds oblong. |
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Distribution: |
It is native to tropical Asia. It occurs throughout India. It is propagated by seeds. |
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Where to see it: |
Medicinal plant garden. |
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Uses: |
The whole plants, principally the leaves, possess antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. The leaves are used in treating dysentery, diarrhoea, enteritis, fever, coryza, cough, sore throat, tonsillitis, bronchitis, osteodynia, arthralgia, menstrual and post-partum haemtometra, scrofula, hypertension and snake-bite. |
