Aerva lanata

Aerva lanata, the mountain knotgrass, is a woody, prostrate or succulent, perennial herb in the family Amaranthaceae, native to Asia, Africa. It has been included as occurring in Australia by the US government, but it is not recognised as occurring in Australia by any Australian state herbarium. The plant sometimes flowers in the first year.

Aerva lanata
Aerva lanata var. rotundifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Aerva
Species:
A. lanata
Binomial name
Aerva lanata
Synonyms
  • Achyranthes lanata L.
  • Achyranthes villosa Forssk.
  • Aerva arachnoidea Gand.
  • Aerva incana Suess.
  • Aerva mozambicensis Gand.
  • Aerva sansibarica Suess.
  • Illecebrum lanatum (L.) L.

Aerva lanata is a common weed which grows wild everywhere in the plains of India. The root has a camphor-like aroma. The dried flowers which look like soft spikes, are sold under the commercial names Buikallan and Boor. It is one of the plants included in Dasapushpam, the ten sacred flowers of Kerala.

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