Achyranthes aspera

Achyranthes aspera

Floral Description:

According to Flora of Pakistan

Perennial herb (sometimes woody and somewhat suffrutescent), occasionally flowering in the first year, 0.2-2 m, stiffly erect to subscandent or straggling and ±prostrate, simple to much-branched, stems stout to very weak, distinctly to obscurely 4-angled, striate or sulcate, subglabrous to densely tomentose, the nodes ±shrunken when dry. Leaves elliptic, oblong or oval and acute or acuminate to almost round and very obtuse, gradually or abruptly narrowed below, (2-) 3-12 (-16) x 1.3-6 cm, indumentum varying from uniformly subglabrous through subglabrous above and densely appressed-canescent below to ± densely tomentose on both surfaces; petioles of main stem leaves 3-25 mm, shortening above and below. Inflorescences at first dense, finally elongating to (5-) 8-34 (-40) cm; peduncles (0.6-)1-6(-7.5) cm. Bracts lanceolate or narrowly deltoid-lanceolate, pale or brownish-membranous, 1.75-5 (-6) mm, glabrous. Bracteoles 1.5-4.5 (-6) mm, the basal wings 1/3-1/4 (-1/2) the length of the spine and adnate to it, typically tapering off above but not rarely rounded or truncate. Perianth whitish or pale green to red or purple, segments 5, 3-7 (-10) mm, the outer longest, narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate, very acute, with a distinct midrib and 2 obscure to distinct lateral nerves, narrowly or moderately pale-margined. Stamens 5, the filaments 1.5-4.5 (-6) mm, alternating with subquadrate pseudo-staminodes. Typically the apex of the latter curves slightly inwards as a narrow, crenate or entire, often very delicate flap, while from the dorsal surface arises a fimbriate-ciliate scale extending across the width of the pseudo-staminode; not rarely, however, this is reduced to a “stag’s-horn” process at the centre of the dorsal surface, or even becomes small and filiform-or else subapical or apical so that the pseudo-staminode appears simple (this mostly in small forms of var. sicula, which has not yet been found in Pakistan). Style slender, 1-4 (-6) mm. Capsule 1-3 (-5) mm. Seed filling the capsule, cylindrical, smooth.

According to Flora of China

Stem quadrangular, pubescent; nodes slightly inflated; branches opposite. Petiole 0.5-1.5 cm, somewhat hairy; leaf blade broadly obovate or elliptic-oblong, 1.5-7 × 0.4-4 mm, papery, both surfaces hairy, base cuneate or rounded, margin entire or undulate, apex obtuse, with a mucro. Spikes terminal, erect, reflexed after anthesis, 10-30 cm; rachis angular, stout, densely hairy. Bracts lanceolate, 3-4 mm, apex acuminate; bracteoles spiny, shiny, 2.5-4.5 mm, rigid, base 2-winged; wings 1.5-2 mm, membranous, margin entire. Tepals lanceolate, 3.5-5 mm, with a vein. Stamens 2.5-3.5 mm; pseudostaminodes truncate or crenate at apex, fimbriate and ciliate. Utricles ovoid, 2.5-3 mm. Seeds brown, ovoid, ca. 2 mm.

Common names:

in English: colic weed, cow pimpler, devils whip, man better man, prickly chaff-flower, rough chaff flower, rough chaff tree, soldier rod, washerman’s plant

in Tonga: tamatama

in Bangladesh: chai ka krilu

in China: dao kou cao, niuxi, tu niu xi

in India: aandhi jhara, adhahsalya, adhoghanta, adhvashalya, agadha, aghaada, aghada, aghadha, aghado, aghamargava, aghara, aghata, aghedo, agya, akatam, akatamonicceti, akatturam, akayamauni, ancanati, andaro, andhi jado, andhi jalo, andhi jhara, andhijhada, andhijhara, andijaro, anghedo, antisa, antisha, apa margamu, apamaargamu, apamar, apamara, apamarang, apamaranga, apamarg, apamarg panchang, apamarga, apamargah (margah, path), apamargaha, apamargamu, apamargh, apamarkkam, apamarkki, apamarutamuli, apang, apangakpushpi, aparamarkkam, appamarg,

aramaravam, aramiyam, atkumah, atokantam, attuvacalliyam, bionieshpta, bionihakota, buchhawl, cadelari, caitanniyam, cakarikam, caramattiyam, cavakam, cavuntati, cekari, cekarikam, cennayuruvi, chakchida, chamatkara, champangmichel, charchatta, checarilata, chichida, chichira, chichra, chidchida, chir-chira, chirchira, chirchit, chirchita, chirchiti, chirchitta, cicimda, cikari, cikiciram, circira, circita, cirukatalati, cirukatalaticceti, civanta nayuruvi, culanam, cuvanam, cuvayam, dadatara, dhamargava, dhatrikota, dintara, dubbina chettu, dubbinachettu, ducha bondro, duchabondra, durabhigraha, eeramuli, garadim, garadimi, ginisar, gujrat, iraviliyanputu, kacurantam, kadaladi, kalvacamati, kamankalam, kancari, kantarika, kanti, kantta, karakkarati, karamantali, karapippivi, karattilkaram, karattirkaram, karcikacceti, karcikam, karkatapippali, karumalaki, karumancari, karumancaricceti, karumpai, katalati, katavakam, katio bhuratio, katumancaricceti, katumancarikai, katumancarikam, katumanjirika, katunti, kavutam, kecaravaram, kecarikacceti, kecarikam, kempu uthraani, khara, khara-manjari, kharamanjari, khare-vazhgunah, khare-vazhun, khujumpere, kicaparnam, kicaparni, kicaparnicceti, kicaparunicceti, kincapanni, kini, kinihi, kinit, kirusnapanni, kishaparni, kokarlatha, kolitakikam, korroci, kotavi, kottakacceti, kottakam, kottavi, kottavivittirukki, kottavivittirukku, ksharamadhya, kshuraka, kubja, kukurdanti, kurccakacitacceti, kurccanacitam, kurmakkerutamuli, kutri, lalgiri, lalirm cursc, lat jira, latjeera, latjira, latjiri, latkinna, latzeera, lich kuri, lokkikacceti, lokkila, lutjiro, makatacceti, makatam, malakanta, malakantacceti, malakantam, mamuni, mamuniki, mamuri, manakimuli, manca, mancari, mancaricceti, manikkarutu, manikkayaru, margia, markati, markkatapippali,  arkkatappippili, markkavikam, maruttipoti, maruttippoti, maruttira, maruttiracceti, mayirakam, mayooraka, mayura, mayuraka, mayurakacceti, mayurakam, mayuram, minamkachi, mullu uttarani, munrutari, munrutarikkoti, nayurivi, naayurivi, naayuruvi, nagarasi, nahiooroovie vayr, naun-phak-pe, navuri, nayiranci, naykkittam, naykuruvi, nayurivi, nayuruvi, nayurvi, nayuviri, nayvananki, nayvanankicceti, olti-koro, opamaarga, pandhara-aghada, pandukantaka, parakpushpi, parkanda, parnayavani, pataramukki, pataramukkicceti, pellaunacceti, pellaunam, pinrutari, pinrutaricceti, pippilicikari, pirattiyakapanni, pirattiyakapannicceti, pirattiyakpanni, pirattiyaputpam, pratyak-pushpi, pratyakparni, pratyakpuspa, pratyakpuspi, pratyukpushpi, puli, puratiyuram, puth kanda, puthkanda, puthkunda, putkanda, rakh chirchitta, rechari, rucha bondro, rusabedru, saagi, samphra ulta, shaikharika, shikhari, shiru-kadaladi, shkhari, sikhari, silir kadn, sirukadaladi, sohbyrthit, sthalamanjari, surat, talakata, tamarkkavam, tarattilkaram, tucciram, tutaivi, ulimani, ultakund, ultalengra, ultekuro, ultokure, undhokanto, undo kanto, unta ghada, urumbuli chedy, uruvi, uruviyuppu, uruviyuppu uttaren, uthareni, utrani-gida, utranigida, uttareni, uttaraane, uttaraani, uttaraani gida, uttaraene, uttarance, uttarane, uttaranee, uttarani, uttarani gida, uttarani soppu, uttaren, uttareni, utthareni, uttrane, valanatikamam, valiya-katalati, valiyakatalati, van-kadalady, vancamuli, vankadalaadi, vankatalat, vantamarkkam, varakamarkkam, varkamarkkam, varkamarutacceti, vasira, vellainayuruvi, vennayuruvi, viralaneri, viralnericceti, virarkoti, visakkani, vittirukki, yakattam, yapamarakkam

in Indonesia: jarong, jarong lalaki, sangko hidung

in Japan: murasaki-no-kozuchi (= purple Achyranthes)

in Laos: khoy ngou

in Malaysia: ara songsang, nyarang songsang, nyarang sunsang

in Nepal: ankhle jhar, apamarga, churut jhar, datiwan, gorsawa, hyurpuju, ulta kur, ulte kuru

in Papua New Guinea: towano

in Philippines: deket-deket, dokot-dokot, guela, hangod, hangor, hangot, hangud, higad-higad, libai, lopo-lopo, ninikitan, rag-ragadi, saramat, saramo

in Thailand: khuai nguu, phan nguu, yaa teen nguu khaao

in Tibet: a pa ma rga

in Vietnam: co nha lin ngu, c[or] x[uw][ows]c, nguru tat nam, nha khoanh ngu, nha lin ngu, thin hong mia

in Kenya: chesirimiot, chesirimto

in Madagascar: fandrangojaza, tsipolitra, tsipolomanitra, tsipolotra, tsipotamena, vatofosa, vatofosy

in Nigeria: eba-omomo

in S. Rhodesia: dombo

in Tanzania: bwasi, ihata, ikulula, kwantzi, lindiame, lingulukila, lugeni, mbarahasha, ngwena ja kulutambo, ngulukilak, nunuhay, olerubat, pulule

in Yoruba: abora, aboro, epa aboro

Pharmacological Activities and Uses:

Achyranthes aspera causes a dose-related transient cardiovascular toxicity. Saussurea lappa, Argyreia speciosa and Achyranthes aspera, antiinflammatory and anti-arthritic activity. Plant pungent, purgative, diuretic, used in dropsy, piles, colic, snakebite, boils and skin eruptions; whole plant decoction in rheumatism, muscular pains and arthritis; plant decoction to cure coughs; ash of the plant taken for asthma, applied on the body for the treatment of jaundice. Decoction of leaves applied externally for cuts, insect bites and wounds; leaves crushed with leaves and roots of Machilus bombycina and the juice is applied on pimples; a paste prepared with lime and leaf of nonflowering plants is applied to cure eczema; leaf infusion for the treatment of snakebite; leaves pounded, soaked in water, boiled and the liquid drunk to treat venereal diseases and also to treat colds in children; leaves juice given in diarrhea, as eye drops in hysteria. Root extract aphrodisiac and sex tonic, sedative, given for stomatitis, spermatorrhea, sterility, impotence, dystocia; root powder taken orally to check discharge of sperm with urine and to increase sexual potentiality, also given for fever and epilepsy; roots made into a paste with rhizomes of Chrysopogon aciculatus and applied on foul ulcers; powdered roots, mixed with crushed snails, applied to cure leprosy; roots ground with those of Ziziphus xylopyrus and the paste given after delivery as an antiseptic, tonic, postpartum remedy; an infusion astringent, for diarrhea, dysentery; a decoction in the oral treatment of leprosy, also given to women after menstrual period for thecontrol of fertility, used as an abortifacient; roots paste given for easy delivery and as antidote, anti-venom, also applied in painful scorpion stings; pounded roots for malaria; crushed roots applied on wounds. Powdered roasted seeds mixed with honey given for cough; seed powder given in piles, also smoked for respiratory disease. Veterinary medicine, whole plant given to cows after delivery for taking out the remaining portion of placenta; whole plant juice given as diuretic; plant juice applied for maggot wounds; spikes made into a paste and applied on boils, ulcers and wounds; leaves ground with saffron used as eye drops for opacity of cornea; crushed leaves juice applied on the wounds, burns, on maggot wounds; roots extract given in insect bite.