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Pistia stratiotes - Kumbhika

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Pistia stratiotes0.jpg

Pistia stratiotes is a small, evergreen perennial plant with feathery roots. Free-floating in lakes, ponds etc. The plant forms rosettes of leaves up to 10cm wide and 6cm tall with a flowering stem up to 12cm tall. The plant can spread quickly, especially in still water, to form quite extensive clumps.

Uses

Parts Used

Chemical Composition

It contains four compounds were obtained and identified as stigmasta-4,22-dien-3-one, stigmasterol, stigmasteryl stearate and palmitic acid.[3]

Common names

Language Common name
Kannada ಅಂತರಗಂಗೆ Antaragange, ಕುಂಬಿಕ್ Kumbik
Hindi Jalakumbhi
Malayalam Akasathamara, Kodappayal
Tamil Akasha-t-tamarai, Antara-t-tamarai,
Telugu Antara-tamara, Budaga tamara
Marathi Akashamuli, Jalamandavi
Gujarathi Jalakumbhi, Jalshankhala
Punjabi NA
Kashmiri NA
Sanskrit Akashamuli, Jalakumbhika
English Water cabbage, Water lettuce

[4]

Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Dravya

Rasa

Guna

Veerya

Vipaka

Karma

Prabhava

Habit

Identification

Leaf

Kind Shape Feature

[5]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
Flowering season - December - February

Fruit

Type Size Mass Appearance Seeds More information
Fruiting season - December - February

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

How to plant/cultivate

Found though much of the tropics and subtropics at elevations from sea level to more than 1,000 metres. The optimal growth temperature range for the plant is 22 - 30°c. Plants cannot tolerate frosts.[6]

Commonly seen growing in areas

Photo Gallery

References

  1. Indian Medicinal Plants by C.P.Khare
  2. ”Karnataka Medicinal Plants Volume - 2” by Dr.M. R. Gurudeva, Page No.59, Published by Divyachandra Prakashana, #45, Paapannana Tota, 1st Main road, Basaveshwara Nagara, Bengaluru.
  3. Chemical constituents
  4. Common names
  5. [Morphology]
  6. Cultivation

External Links