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Herbs & Plants

Desmostachya bipinnata

Botanical Name :Desmostachya bipinnata
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Chloridoideae
Tribe: Eragrostideae
Genus: Eragrostis
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Poales

Synonyms:Eragrostis cynosuriodes

Common Names:Kusha, Sacred Creeping Grass, Kusa, Durba, Durva, Dab, Lovegrass, Canegrass

Habitat :Desmostachya bipinnata is native to northeast and west tropical, and northern Africa (in Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan, and Tunisia); and countries in the Middle East, and temperate and tropical Asia (in Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand).
Description:
Leaf blade width: 1–3 mm
Inflorescence branches: the flowers are attached to branches rather than to the main axis of the inflorescence
Spikelet length: 4–10 mm
Glume relative length: neither glume is quite as long as all of the florets
Awn on glume: the glume has no awn. One or more florets there is more than one floret per spikelet
Lemma awn length: 0 mm
Leaf ligule length: 0.6–1.5 mm
Anther length: 0.6–1.2 mm

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Medicinal Uses:
In folk medicine, Desmostachya bipinnata has been used variously to treat dysentery and menorrhagia, and as a diuretic.

Ayurvedic Applications: Root-dysentery, menorrhagia, other bleeding disorders like hemorrhoids, purpura, etc. Used as an infusion.

Religious.
Desmostachya bipinnata has long been used in various traditions as a sacred plant. According to early Buddhist accounts, it was the material used by Buddha for his meditation seat when he attained enlightenment.The plant was mentioned in the Rig Veda for use in sacred ceremonies and also as a seat for priests and the gods. Kusha grass is specifically recommended by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita as part of the ideal seat for meditation.
Other Uses: It has been planted widely to reclaim eroded soils. Birds and small mammals feast on its ripe seeds, and livestock graze young plants. This grass also supports a diverse insect fauna including cinch bugs, seed bugs, leafhoppers, and turtle bugs.

Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
http://www.oshims.com/herb-directory/s/sacred-creeping-grass
http://www.homeopathicupchar.com/tag/sacred-creeping-grass/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eragrostis
https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/eragrostis/curvula/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmostachya_bipinnata

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