Anisomeles indica (L.) O. Ktze.
കരിതുമ്പ


Family: LAMIACEAE
Sub-Family: Not available
English Name: Not available
Synonym: Anisomeles heyneana Benth.
Common Name: Chedayan
Flowering & Fruiting Period: January-April
Distribution: Indo-Malesia and China
Habitat: Dry and moist deciduous forests and wastelands
Uses: The essential oil is used as flavouring for sago cakes. The whole plant is used, but especially the leaves and the roots. It is a powerful astringent, carminative, febrifuge and tonic. The leaves yield an essential oil which shows antimicrobial activity. The plant is used in the treatment of rheumatism, colds, fevers, abdominal pain, skin sores, and snake bites. A decoction of the leaves is used as an antirheumatic and stomachic, and also to treat uterine infections, kidney gravel, swellings and hypertension. The plant is burnt as a mosquito repellent.
Key Characteristics: Erect, aromatic woody herbs, stem 4-angled, grooved on opposite sides, densely pubescent. Leaves simple, opposite, broadly ovate to obovate, margin coarsely serrate-crenate; petiole to 3 cm long. Flowers in axillary sessile clusters or in terminal interrupted spikes. Calyx campanulate; lobes 5, ovate, ciliate on margin. Corolla pale pink, 2-lipped. Stamens 4, didynamous, exserted; filaments hairy; anthers of upper pair 2-celled, of lower 1-celled. Ovary 4-partite; style slender; stigma 2-fid; disc subentire. Nutlets 4, lenticular, reddish-brown.