Mountain Knot Grass is a perennial herb, occasionally woody below,
prostrate to erect, 0.3-2 m, branched from the base and often also from
above. Stem and branches are densely woolly with whitish or yellowish,
shaggy hairs. Alternately arrange leaves are nearly circular to
lanceshaped-elliptic, wedge-shaped at the base, rounded to sharp at the
tip. Leaves are usually densely woolly on the lower surface and more
thinly so above. Leaves on the main stem are 1-5 cm long, 0.5-3.5 cm wide,
those of the branches and upper part of the stem are smaller. Leaf stalks
are up to 2 cm. Flower spikes are stalkless, solitary or usually in
clusters in leaf axils, 0.4-1.5 cm long, 3-4 mm wide, divergent,
cylindrical, silky white to creamy, forming a long inflorescence leafy to
the ultimate spikes.
Medicinal uses: This herb is described as one of the best known
remedies for bladder and kidney stones. Ayurvedic practitioners recommend
a decoction of the plant to be taken internally for a few days to
dissolves the stone and to clear the urinary path.
Identification credit: Tabish
Photographed in JNU campus, Delhi & Maharashtra.
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The flower labeled Mountain Knot Grass is ...