| Common Name : | Little Ironweed. |
| Binomial Name : | Vernonia patula |
| Family : | Asteraceae |
| Bangla Name : | Kukshim Thankuni (কুক্ষিম থানকুনি), Fulkuri (ফুলকুঁড়ি) |
| Photo Taken : | Bangladesh |
Botanical Identity
Vernonia patula, commonly known as Little Ironweed, is a small flowering herb belonging to the Asteraceae family. It is native to tropical Asia, including India, Bangladesh , and parts of Southeast Asia, and is also found naturalized in tropical Africa and other warm regions. The genus Vernonia is named after the English botanist William Vernon. Though small and often considered a weed, Vernonia patula holds ecological and medicinal significance.
Plant Description
Vernonia patula is a small annual or short-lived perennial herb, typically growing 30 to 90 cm tall. It has an erect, branching stem that is slightly hairy and angular. The leaves are simple, alternate, lance-shaped to ovate, and rough-textured with serrated margins. The plant grows well in open, sunny areas such as roadsides, grasslands, wastelands, and agricultural fields. It is hardy and adaptable, tolerating poor soils and varying moisture levels.
Flowers and Seed Characteristics
The plant produces small, purple to purplish-violet flower heads arranged in flat-topped clusters at the tips of branches. Each flower head consists of multiple tubular florets, with no ray florets, giving it a brush-like appearance. The flowering usually occurs during the rainy season and into early winter. The seeds are slender achenes with fine bristles (pappus) that aid in wind dispersal, allowing the plant to colonize open or disturbed areas quickly.
Uses and Traditional Significance
While often overlooked as a weed, Vernonia patula is used in traditional medicine, particularly in Ayurveda and folk remedies. The whole plant or its extracts are used to treat fevers, wounds, inflammation, and stomach disorders. It is also believed to possess antipyretic and analgesic properties. In addition, the plant provides nectar for butterflies and bees, making it ecologically beneficial. Its resilience and medicinal potential highlight the hidden value of many so-called wild plants.
Photos of this article were taken from the following locations:
1) February 2016: Ramna Park.
2) December 2019: Dhaka.
Written by Lonely Traveler,
For blog icflora.blogspot.com
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