Melochia corchorifolia - Chocolate Weed

❏ Binomial Name : Melochia corchorifolia L.

❏ Synonym : Geruma subtriloba, Polychlaena simplex,Sida cuneifolia

❏ Family : Malvaceae

❏ Common Name : Chocolate Weed

❏ Tamil Name : Punnakkukkirai

❏ Hindi Name : Tikiokra, Bilpat, chitrabee

❏ IUCN status : Not Evaluated

Melochia corchorifolia Botanical Description

Herbs, Stem with 2 longitudinal rows of hairs, Leaves ovate-oblong, often shallowly lobed, cordate to rounded at base, crenate-serrate, to 6 X 3 cm. Flowers usually in terminal fascicles Bracts and bracteoles ciliate. Calyx 5 toothed Petals 0 5 cm long, pink. Stamens 5, filaments united at base. Ovary c. 1 mm long, ovoid, 5-celled; ovules 2 in each cells; styles 5. Capsule globose, 0.5 cm across . Seeds angular or plano-convex, dark brown or greyish. Fl. & Fr.: July-April.

Melochia corchorifolia Medicinal uses

❀ The cooked leaves provide a popular, slimy side-dish in Malawi

❀ A leaf decoction is prescribed in a compound mixture of herbs against urinary disorders

❀ A decoction of the leaves and roots is used internally to treat dysentery, and a decoction of the leaves to stop vomiting

❀ Leaves and roots are used for poulticing in cases of smallpox

❀ A fibre extracted from the bark is fine and strong

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