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Botanical name: Lomatogonium minus Family: Gentianaceae (Gentian family)
Synonyms: Swertia minor, Ophelia minor, Pleurogyna minor Lesser Swertia is a small annual herb, growing up to 15 cm tall, with
4-winged stem. Stalkless leaves are ovate, 0.5-1 cm long, 5 mm wide, with
pointed tip. Flowers are borne in leafy panicle-like cymes. They are
4-or 5-merous, sepal cup divided almost to the base into 4 or 5 ovate sepals, 3-4 mm
long, enlarging in fruit. Flowers are 6-7 mm long, with a very short tube,
and 4-5 ovate-oblong, pointed petals, with 5 parallel nerves. Each petal has
2 triangular pockets near the base. Stamens are 4-5, with flattened
filaments. Lesser Swertia is found in the Western Ghats.
Flowering: July-August.
Medicinal uses: Leaf decoction is given in fever.
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