Chandigarh Forests
Department of Forest & Wildlife
UT Administration
Chandigarh
Department of Forest & Wildlife
|
Division
|
Angiosperms |
|
Class
|
Dicotyledons |
|
Subclass |
Polypetalae |
|
Series |
Calyciflorae |
|
Order |
Ficoidales |
|
Family
|
Apiaceae |
|
Genus
|
Centella |
|
Species
|
asiatica |
|
Etymology:
|
In Latin “centum”, hundred, referring to many branches prostrate herb. |
|
Botanical name:
|
Centella asiatica ( Linn.) Urban (Hydrocotyle asiatica Linn.) |
|
Local/Trade Names: |
Indian pennywort, Mandukparni |
|
Description: |
Perennial creeping herb. Leaves in rosette, reniform, crenate-dentate. Umple simple. Flowers purplish. Fruit ovate to orbicular, shallowly 2-notched, 7-9 ribbed. |
|
Distribution: |
It grows in moist places throughout India. It is commonly seen in marshy banks of rivers, stems, ponds, in irrigated lawns and field etc. below 1300 m in elevation. It is propagated by stolen. |
|
Where to see it: |
Nursery, Medicinal plant garden. |
|
Uses: |
The whole plant possesses antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifebrile, diuretic and galactagogic activity. It is used in the therapy of feber, measles, haematemesis, epistaxis, diarrhoea, dysentery, constipation, leucorrhoea, jaundice, dysuria, furunculosis, dysmenorrhoea and varices. External application in the form of poultices is prescribed for contusions, closed fractures, sprains and furunculosis. |
