English: Wild indigo
Sanskrit: Matsyavisha
Hindi: Sarphonk, Sharpunkha
Malayalam: Kozhinjil-കൊഴിഞ്ഞിൽ
Wild Indigo (Tephrosia purpurea) is a flowering perennial herb ( or shrub) that grows to 50 cm in height, commonly in agricultural fields, watery areas and roadsides, deciduous forests, and grasslands upto500m altitude, it belongs to pea family, leaves are pinnate, alternately arranged, ovate, oblong and pale green, flowers are blue or purplish and seeds are contained in the flat hairy pods, downy-pubescent. Fruits can be seen throughout the year. The plant contains a toxic chemical called ‘tephrosin’, which is harmful to fish.
Leaf Arrangement
Shape-Odd-pinnate | Margin-Entire | Venation-Reticulate |
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Useful plant parts:
Whole plant, leaf, seed
Medicinal uses:
To treat Vata and Kapha disorders, stomach pain, piles, blood purification, dyspepsia, diarrhea, rheumatism, asthma, and urinary disorders.
Chemical contents:
Tephrosin, antipyretic
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