Patthar Suva is a small annual herb, 10-20 cm tall. The plant is branched
from the base and the branches are grooved. Alternately arranged leaves,
1.5 cm long, are pinnately cut in to linear segments. Yellow flowers are
borne in heads carried on slender stalks, in leaf axils or at the end of
branches. Outer 3 bracts are 3 mm long, 3 inner ones are 7 mm long,
striped. Seedpods are 6 mm, brown, hairy. Flowering: August-December.
Medicinal uses: Pithari plant is used as an emmenagogue in
medicine. In Ayurveda, the plant is used as a substitute
for Oldenlandia corymbosa. The tribal inhabitants of western
Maharashtra use a decoction of the plant as febrifuge. A paste of the
fresh Pithari plant is applied to promote healing of sores and wounds. It
has a bitter taste and fennel like odour. Besides serving as a medicinal
plant Pithari plant is also used in culinary purposes. People of some
states in India take Pithari plant as a vegetable.
Identification credit: Rani Bhagat
Photographed in Keesaragutta, Andhra Pradesh.
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The flower labeled Patthar Suva is ...