Eclipta prostrata
(L.) L., Mant. Pl. 2: 286. 1771. Verbesina prostrata L., Sp. Pl.
902. 1753. Eclipta alba (L.) Hassle., Pl. Jav. Rar. 528. 1848; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India
3: 304. 1881.
Tam.: Krisilaanganni; Kaiyaanthavarai.
Herbs, strigose, 10 - 50 cm high, often rooting from lower nodes; stems generally creeping, appressed-pubescent. Leaves simple, opposite, elliptic-oblong or oblong- lanceolate, apically mucronate, cuneate at base, entire, serrate or shallowly toothed; teeth mucronulate; 1.5 - 7.5 x 5 - 2.5 cm, pubescent, subsessile. Heads white solitary or fascicled, axillary, on 5 - 7 cm long, solitary or paired, unequal peduncles, 0.3 - 1.0 cm across. Involucral bracts in 2 series, ovate-lanceolate, acute to short acuminate, 3 - 6 mm., pubescent. Ray florets in 2 - 3 series with 2 dentate corolla, 1 - 3 mm long; tube short, sparingly pubescent above. Disc florets numerous; corolla campanulate, 1 - 1.5 mm long; tube short, sparingly pubescent apically, 4-lobed; lobes ciliate at margins on the ventral surface. Stamens 4 - 5, sagittate. Style branches acute, pubescent. Achenes dark brown, oblong-turbinate, dark brown, dorsiventrally compressed and sharply angled, the apical ridge with few small hairs. Pappus a ring of thick, ciliate, partially or completely united scales forming a cone on the top of the achene.
Fl. & Fr. Throughout the year.
Distrib. India: All tropical regions of India in moist places, ascending up to 2000 m.
Herbs, strigose, 10 - 50 cm high, often rooting from lower nodes; stems generally creeping, appressed-pubescent. Leaves simple, opposite, elliptic-oblong or oblong- lanceolate, apically mucronate, cuneate at base, entire, serrate or shallowly toothed; teeth mucronulate; 1.5 - 7.5 x 5 - 2.5 cm, pubescent, subsessile. Heads white solitary or fascicled, axillary, on 5 - 7 cm long, solitary or paired, unequal peduncles, 0.3 - 1.0 cm across. Involucral bracts in 2 series, ovate-lanceolate, acute to short acuminate, 3 - 6 mm., pubescent. Ray florets in 2 - 3 series with 2 dentate corolla, 1 - 3 mm long; tube short, sparingly pubescent above. Disc florets numerous; corolla campanulate, 1 - 1.5 mm long; tube short, sparingly pubescent apically, 4-lobed; lobes ciliate at margins on the ventral surface. Stamens 4 - 5, sagittate. Style branches acute, pubescent. Achenes dark brown, oblong-turbinate, dark brown, dorsiventrally compressed and sharply angled, the apical ridge with few small hairs. Pappus a ring of thick, ciliate, partially or completely united scales forming a cone on the top of the achene.
Fl. & Fr. Throughout the year.
Distrib. India: All tropical regions of India in moist places, ascending up to 2000 m.
