Madras Carpet is a herb commonly seen in flat bunches in harvested fields,
dry river and pond beds. This hairy, branched herb spreads from the roots
and grows up to 70 cm in height. The buds are white and woolly. The leaves
are alternate, stalkless, deeply cut, and divided into toothed lobes.
Yellow flowering heads are borne opposite the leaves, and are short-
stalked, rounded, and 8-10 mm across. The flowers are small, very numerous.
The involucral-bracts are ovate, thick, rigid, and hairy. The achenes are
cylindric, glandular, and about 2 mm long. The papus-hairs are connate,
ending in a short, fimbriate tube. Madras Carpet is widespread in India.
It is found in Western Ghats and NE India. It is globally found in
Indo-Malesia and Africa.
Medicinal uses: Leaves are regarded in India as a valuable
stomachic possessing deobstruent and antispasmodic properties, and are
prescribed as an infusion and an electuary in cases of obstructed menses
and hysteria.
Identification credit: Neil Soares, Shrikant Ingalhalikar
Photographed at Nagpur, Maharashtra & Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh.
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The flower labeled Madras Carpet is ...