Botanical Name:Leucus aspera
Family:Lamiaceae
Subfamily:Lamioideae
Kingdom: Plantae
Subkingdom: Viridiplantae
Infrakingdom: Streptophyta
Superdivision: Embryophyta
Division: Tracheophyta
Subdivision:Spermatophytina
Order:Lamiales
Genus:Leucas
Species :Leucas aspera
Common name : Although Leucus aspera has many different common names depending on the region in which it is located, it is most commonly known as Thumbai or Thumba..
Hindi: Chhota halkusa
Habitat:Leucus aspera grows in :Africa – Mauritius; E. Asia – China, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines to New Guinea. It is Found in various habitats, from seasonal to perhumid areas, mostly grassy plains, as a weed in arable crops, open dry sandy soils, waste places, teak forest, railway embankments, dunes, locally often common; at elevations up to 500 metre.
Description :
A herbaceous, much-branched, erect or diffuse annual, up to 60 cm in height.
Leaves subsessile, linear or narrowly oblong-lanceolate, entire or crenate. Flowers small, white,
in dense terminal or auxiliary whorls; nutlets small, oblong, smooth, brown.
Cultivation:
Found wild mainly in sunny positions and in a range of soils, especially sandy and well-drained. The plant shows a high tolerance to copper and zinc concentrations in polluted soil. The plant is often found as a weed in sunflower and rice crops in India.
Propagation: Through seeds.
Edible Uses: Leaves are cooked and eaten as a pot herb.
Medicinal Uses:
Eating the plant (as a pot herb) is believed to increase resistance to disease.
The leaf sap is used to treat sores of the eyes and nose.
The juice of the plant is used in the treatment of fevers, coughs and colds.
The bruised leaves are considered to be active against bites of poisonous insects and snakes.
The crushed plant is applied hot as a poultice on to wounds, sores.
In general, the crushed leaves of Leucas species are applied to wounds, sores, especially those of the eyes and nose, chronic skin diseases, such as psoriasis and scabies. The crushed leaves are also used to treat mild fevers, colds, rheumatism and snake bites, and as a decoction against roundworm, mainly for children.
Other Uses: The smoke of dried leaves is used as an insecticide and repellent.
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:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Leucas_aspera
http://www.hplism.nic.in/sites/default/files/leucus_aspera.pdf
http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Leucas+aspera
