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Aerva persica
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Family:
AMARANTHACEAE
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Citation: Aerva persica (Burm. f.) Merr., Philipp. J. Sci. 19: 348. 1928; M. Mohanan & Henry, Fl. Thiruvanthapuram 375. 1994.
Iresine persica Burm. f., Fl. Ind. 212. 1768.
Aerva javanica (Burm. f.) Juss. ex Schult. in Roem. & Schult., Syst. Veg. 5: 565. 1819.
Iresine javanica Burm. f., Fl. Ind. 218. 1768.
Aerva tomentosa Forssk., Fl. Aeg.-Arab. 22. 1775; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1178(824). 1925.
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Malayalam Name(s):
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
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Description:
Much branched, erect, perennial undershrubs, up to 1 m high; stem terete, covered with thick, easily detachable tomentum. Leaves alternate, 5-12 x 1.5-2.5cm, linear oblong or oblong-spathulate, obtuse or acute at apex, rarely retuse, tomentose on both surfaces, sessile. Flowers unisexual, dioecious, dull-white, sessile, in linear, 2.5-15 cm long, spikes, the spikes arranged in terminal, leafless panicles; bracteoles broadly ovate, acute, white, hyaline. Male flowers: perianth lobes 5, elliptic, oblong, subobtuse, wooly on dorsal surface; pistillode ovoid, acute, usually shortly stipulate with short style; stigma minutely bifid. Female flowers: perianth 2.5 mm long, lobes oblong, subacute, apiculate; stigma 2 as long as the style. Fruit an orbicular-ovoid utricle.
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Habit:
Herb
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Flowering & Fruiting:
September-December
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District(s):
Thiruvananthapuram
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Medicinal:
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Habitat:
Scrub jungles
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Distribution:
Widespread in the drier parts of the tropics and subtropics of the Old World
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Aquatic:
No
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
No
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Flower colour(s):
White
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Weed:
No
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Monocot/Dicot:
Dicotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
No
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Garden:
No
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Edible:
No
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Vegetable:
No
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Endemic to:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
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Localities:
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