Phyllanthus urinaria - Bhumyamalaki

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Bhumyamalaki, ujjhata, Phyllanthus-urinaria

Chamber bitter is a small annual herb growing up to 2 ft tall. Leaves are alternately arranged along the erect, red stem, resembling those of the mimosa tree, disposed in two ranges. However, the leaves are not compound, but simple. The leaves are oblong or oblong-obovate, 7-18 mm long, 3-7 mm wide, rounded with a sharp point., obliquely rounded at base, nearly stalkless, pale beneath. The leaves are large at the tip and smaller towards the petiole. When touched, the leaves fold in automatically. Flowers are greenish white, minute and appear at axiles of the leaves, as well as the seed capsules. Numerous small green-red fruits, round and smooth, are found along the underside of the stems.

Uses

kidney stones, urinary tract infection, bladder inflammation, liver problems, hepatitis B, urinaria.

Parts Used

whole plant.

Chemical Composition

Lignans Phyllanthin, hypophyllanthin, Flavonoids Astragalin, rutin, quercetin, Triterpenes Lupeol, sitosterol, Alkaloids, Tannin

Common names

Language	Common name
Kannada	āvarike
Hindi	Tarwar
Malayalam
Tamil	āvārai
Telugu	taṃgēḍu
Marathi	NA
Gujarathi	NA
Punjabi	NA
Kashmiri	NA
Sanskrit	Aaavartaki
English	Avaram senna

Habit

small erect herb

Identification

Leaf

Kind	Shape	Feature
alternate	stipulate	The leaves are alternate, stipulate, paripinnate compound, very numerous, closely placed, rachis 8.8-12.5 cm long, narrowly furrowed, slender, pubescent, with an erect linear gland between the leaflets of each pair, leaflets 16-24, very shortly stalked 2-2.5 cm long 1-1.3 cm broad, slightly overlapping, oval oblong, obtuse, at both the ends

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Flower

Type	Size	Color and composition	Stamen	More information
bisexual	2.5 cm long	bright yellow	5-20	The racemes are few-flowered, short, erect, crowded in axils of upper leaves so as to form a large terminal inflorescence stamens barren; the ovary is superior, unilocular, with marginal ovules.

Fruit

Type	Size	Mass	Appearance	Seeds	More information
short legume	7.5–11 cm long, 1.5 cm broad	clearly grooved lengthwise, Lowest hooked hairs aligned towards crown	oblong, obtuse, tipped with long style base, flat, thin, papery, undulately crimpled, pilose, pale brown.	12-20 seeds	{{{6}}}

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

• Vishatinduka Taila as root juice extract

Mode of Propagation

Seeds.

How to plant/cultivate

It is well adapted to variety of soils at pH ranging from alkaline to neutral and acidic. Plant shows preference for calcareous well drained and light textured soils.

Commonly seen growing in areas

dry regions of India, sea coast, dry zone in Sri Lanka.

Photo Gallery

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