Aerva lanata(L.) Juss. ex Schult.
Mountain knotgrass is an annual with a branching, somewhat woody root system. The stems are mostly straggling and sprawling and spread widely, sometimes as much as 6 feet (1.8 m) in length. The often stalkless leaves are alternate, oval and 0.5 to 1.5 in (13 to 38 mm) long. They grow from whitish papery stipules with two lobes and red bases. The tiny clusters of two or three flowers grow in the leaf axils. The flowers are about 0.1 in (2.5 mm) long, pink, green or dull white. The flowers are normally self-pollinated. Flowering time is from May to October.
- Family: Amaranthaceae
- Habit: A much-branched undershrub, upto 1m.
- Habitat: open forests on mountain slopes, on waste and disturbed ground, deserted cultivation and coastal scrub[5] and at altitudes from sea level to 900 m (3,000 ft).
- Status : Common
Vernacular names
English-mountain knotgrass
Malayalam-cheroola
Telungu-Pindi kommalu
Tamil- Ponga-Poo
Medicinal Uses
* The plant is used as a traditional medicine for snakebites
*In the traditional medicine of India, the juice of crushed Aerva lanata root is used for jaundice therapy.
