Ageratum conyzoides Linn.

Ageratum conyzoides Linn.

FAMILY: ASTERACEAE
Vernacular name : Billy Goat-weed, Osadi, Ghaneri.

Morphological characters :

Habit: Annual herb.

Stem: Erect, branched, terete, hairy.

Leaves: Leaves simple, opposite, or the upper alternate, 1 – 2.1cm, exstipulate, petiolate, long, hairy, simple, ovate, serrate, acute, base cuneate, hairy, unicostate reticulate venation.

Inflorescence: Dense terminal corymbose, homogamous capitula with all flowers tubular.

Flower: Involucral bracts linear, acute, green, ribbed on the bark with grey linings, sessile, complete, actinomorphic, bisexual, epigynous, pentamerous, flowers white with bad odour.

Calyx: Sepals 5, polysepalous, valvate, reduced to 5cm long, scaly structures (pappus), aristate, about equalling the corolla.

Corolla: Petals 5, gamopetalous, valvate, tubular, 5-toothed with glistening sessile glands, regular.

Androecium: Stamens 5, epipetalous, syngenesious, filaments short, anthers long, basifixed, dithecous, base obtuse, introrse.

Gynoecium: Bicarpellary, syncarpous, inferior ovary, unilocular with 1ovule in the locule, basal placentation, style long; stigma bifid, obtuse.

Fruit: Long achenes, slightly curved, attenuated at the base, black.

Flowering period: Throughout the year.

Fruiting period:

Origin: Native of Australia.

Econimic importance: The plant is used in skin diseases & leprosy.