| Crested Lepidagathis |
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Botanical name: Lepidagathis cristata Family: Acanthaceae (Acanthus family)
Crested Lepidagathis is a perennial herb, with almost no stem. Branches, 20
cm long, arise out of a globose head on the ground, and spread out.
Leaves are stalkless, 3-6 x 0.5-1 cm, linear-lanceshaped, velvet-hairy, pointed
at both ends, margin entire to toothed. Flowers
are also arise stalkless from this globose head. Flowers are pale pink,
2-lipped. The upper lip is notched, and the lower lip is divided into 3
lobes. It appears in dry places and waste lands.
Medicinal uses:
Crested Lepidagathis, called Mullabanthi in
Telugu, has been used by the yanadi tribe in Andhra Pradesh as a traditional
medicine. It is used in the treatment of fever. It is also used in treating
inflammations - aqueous extract of leaves mixed with Ocimum juice and
the tuberous flower ash mixed with coconut oil is a concoction, which is
applied on parts affected by inflammation. In Chhattisgarh, people use
leaf extract for treating malaria. Leaf extract is also used in cleaning
the cattle in rainy season. People also use it for relieving skin itch,
burns and wounds.
Recent research has identified phytoconstituents like alkaloids and glycosides
and has provided support to the theraptic effects believed in traditional
medicine.
Medicinal uses:
Crested Lepidagathis, called Mullabanthi in
Telugu, has been used by the yanadi tribe in Andhra Pradesh as a traditional
medicine. It is used in the treatment of fever. It is also used in treating
inflammations - aqueous extract of leaves mixed with Ocimum juice and
the tuberous flower ash mixed with coconut oil is a concoction, which is
applied on parts affected by inflammation. In Chhattisgarh, people use
leaf extract for treating malaria. Leaf extract is also used in cleaning
the cattle in rainy season. People also use it for relieving skin itch,
burns and wounds.
Recent research has identified phytoconstituents like alkaloids and glycosides
and has provided support to the theraptic effects believed in traditional
medicine. | Identification credit: Rahul Prabhu Khanolkar | Photographed in Maharashtra. |
• Is this flower misidentified? If yes,