Monday 31 March 2014

Posted by Rahul Sharma Posted on 03:02 | No comments

Sonchus oleraceus L. (COMMON SOWTHISTLE)

Sonchus oleraceus L.

Common Sowthistle !!

BOTANICAL NAME: Sonchus oleraceus L.

FAMILY: Asteraceae

ENGLISH NAME: common sowthistle, sow thistle, smooth sow thistle, annual sow thistle, hare's colwort, hare's thistle, milky tassel, swinies

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: It is native to Asia, Australia, and Europe. The Latin name Sonchus refers to the hollow stem, while oleraceus refers to its good taste. The common name sow thistle refers to its attractiveness to swine, and the similarity of the leaf to younger thistle plants. The common name hare's thistle refers to its beneficial effects and attractiveness for hare and rabbits.

HABITAT DISTRIBUTION:
Sonchus oleraceus can grow on most soil types. It prefers disturbed areas such as fields, pastures, gardens, roadsides, edges of yards, construction sites, waste areas (Pethybridge, 2005), farmland and recently burned fields (Grubben & Denton, 2004). It grows at altitudes of up to 2650m (Grubben & Denton, 2004). On Inaccessible Island S. oleraceus is recorded to occur on footpaths, landslides, depressions left by shifting boulders, old settlements/cultivations and rivers (Dean et al., 1994).

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE: 1) Native Range: Europe, Asia and northern Africa.

2) Introduced Range: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Falkland Islands, French Southern Territories, Greenland, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Saint Helena, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, United States, Virgin Islands (USA).

CHARACTERISTICS: Prefers full sun, and can tolerate most soil conditions. The flowers are hermaphroditic, and common pollinators include bees and flies. It spreads by seeds being carried by wind or water. This plant is considered an invasive species in many parts of the world, where it is found mostly in disturbed areas.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
Sonchus oleraceus has hollow stems that exude latex (whitish milk) if damaged. It has a short taproot, and deeply lobed leaves. It can be distinguished from Sonchus asper and Sonchus hydrophilus in that they both have stiff and leathery leaves, mostly smooth achenes (fruit) with ribs that are scabrous (rough to the touch) or with hairs. Sonchus oleraceus however, has soft, thin leaves and wrinkled achenes, with ribs but without hooks.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION:
>>Sonchus oleraceus is a dicotyledonous winter annual plant in the family Asteraceae.

>>leaves: It has a rosette morphology that produces all its leaves, followed by a terminal flowering bud. It has two types of mature leaves: rosette leaves grow in circles from a common centre close to the ground; cauline leaves grow on the upper part of the stem (Holm et al., 1977 in Cici et al., 2009). Leaves are thin and soft, measuring up to 35cm long and 12cm wide. Leaves are lanceolate to oblanceolate in shape, hairless and dark green in colour with pale white to purple veins (Pethybridge, 2005; Department of Primary Industries, 2010).

>>Stems are five angled and hollow and dark-green in colour (sometimes have a reddish-purple tinge), and emit a milky sap when cut. Plants can grow to 1m or greater in height (Cici et al., 2009).

>>Flowers are inflorescences (capitula), and are yellow and 5-6mm in diameter. Capitula are borne on stalks at the end of branches. Flowers open from 6am to 11am.

>>The fruit is an achene that is 2.5-4mm long and 1mm wide, compressed and obovoid in shape (Pethybridge, 2005).

>>Achenes have 3-5 ribs and are rugose in texture. Mature seeds have a white feathery pappus (5-8mm long), that collectively form a white puff ball similar to dandelion. A single plant can produce over 8,000 seeds (Chauhan et al., 2005) that are wind dispersed

NUTRITIVE VALUE: >>Green salad with carrot, cucumber, onion, Sonchus oleraceus leaves, and tomato slices.

>>Leaves are eaten as salad greens or cooked like spinach. This is one of the species used in Chinese cuisine as kŭcài. Blanching or boiling removes bitter flavour.

>>Nutritional analysis reveals 30 – 40 mg of vitamin C per 100g, 1.2% protein, 0.3% fat, 2.4% carbohydrate. Leaf dry weight analysis per 100g (likely to vary with growing conditions) shows: 45g Carbohydrate, 28g protein, 22g ash, 5.9g fibre, 4.5g fat; in all, providing 265 calories.
Minerals
Calcium: 1500 mg
Phosphorus: 500 mg
Iron: 45.6 mg
Magnesium: 0 mg
Sodium: 0 mg
Potassium: 0 mg
Zinc: 0 mg;
Vitamins
A: 35 mg
Thiamine (B1): 1.5 mg
Riboflavin (B2): 5 mg
Niacin: 5 mg
B6: 0 mg
C: 60 mg

GENERAL IMPACT: Annual sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus) is a major problem as invaders of many crops, particularly of open vegetable fields. It is particularly problematic in winter crops and in tillage systems throughout southern Australia, South-East Queensland and Northern New South Wales. It uses valuable stored soil moisture during fallow periods, which reduces the yield of future crops (Widderick et al., 1999 in Widderick et al., 2010).

S. oleraceus is also an important alternative host of pests and diseases of crops (CSIRO, 2007). It is a known host of a wide range of viral diseases including watermelon mosaic virus (WMV), pepino mosaic virus (PepMV), tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV). It is the host for the economically significant castor whitefly (Trialeurodes ricini), Bemisia whiteflies, cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera and the nematode Radopholus similis (Grubben & Denton, 2004). It is also likely to be an important host for downy mildew (Bremia lactucae), one of the worst diseases of lettuce which is an important vegetable crop worldwide (Vieira & Barreto, 2006).

USES: >>Sonchus oleraceus may have been used as a food source in the Mediterranean (Leonti et al. 2006).
>>It is also eaten in Africa, both cooked and raw. It is also used to treat a wide variety of infections, diseases and other medicinal uses.
>>A few examples include use as a sedative, a diuretic and to treat salmonella infection, anaemia, wars, eye problems, liver infections, and as a cure for opium addiction (Grubben & Denton, 2004).
>>Other uses include food for poultry, rabbits and fodder for cattle (Grubben & Denton, 2004). It has potential to be used as a trap crop for control of insect populations (Grubben & Denton, 2004).

CONTROL:This plant can often be controlled by mowing, because it does not regrow from root fragments. Attempts at weed control by herbicide, to the neglect of other methods, may have led to proliferation of this species in some environments.

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION:>>Physical Control: Small or isolated populations of Sonchus oleraceus may be manually removed while plants are young, prior to seed set. The taproot must be removed, as resprouting can occur if left in the soil (Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, 2000 in Guertin, 2003). Slashing is often ineffective as flowers continue to be produced (FloraBase, 2010). Minimal tillage of crops is recommended as this will maintain most of the seed bank close to the soil surface, which favours seed germination, enhances emergence and promotes seed decay and predation. If the seedlings are controlled effectively for a 6-12 month period, this type of control should greatly reduce the seed bank (Widderick et al., 2010). Mulching and soil sterilisation methods can complement other management efforts (Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, 2000 in Guertin, 2003).

>>Grazing: Grazing of Sonchus spp. by cattle and sheep effectively suppresses infestations in pastures, and weakens plants allowing other control methods to be more effectively used (Zollinger & Parker, 1999 in Guertin, 2003). They also make excellent feed for livestock.

>>Chemical Control: For control of Sonchus spp. (asper and oleraceus), a pre-emergent herbicide containing isoxaben can be used, herbicidal soaps when the plants are young, or glyphosate when plants are mature. Zollinger and Parker (1999 in Guertin, 2003) recommend 2,4-D, clopyralid, dicamba, glyphosate, and picloram for control of Sonchus spp., while Rice (1992 in Guertin, 2003) 2,4-D, DCPA, diethatyl-ethyl, MCPA, amitrole, atrazine, bromoxynil, chlorsulfuron, dicamba, dichlorprop & 2,4-D, diuron, glyphosate, isoxaben (Snapshot), norflurazon, oryzalin, oxyfluorfen, paraquat, Ornamental Herbicide II, napropamide, simazine and tebuthiuron.

Sonchus oleraceus has developed resistance to chlorsulfuron in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales (Adkins et al. 1997 in Chauhan et al. 2006) atrazine (CSIRO, 2007), and all lettuce (Lactuca sativa) herbicides (University of California Riverside, Undated in Guertin, 2003). A recent study carried out in California also found methyl bromide and alternative fumigants to be ineffective against S. oleraceus (Shrestha et al., 2009). Apparently spot spraying of Lontrel® 10ml/10L with a wetting agent can be used to control the plant, preferably at the rosette stage (FloraBase, 2010).

>>Biological Control: Biological agents are currently being researched as a possibility for managing S. oleraceus and other Sonchus species in Australia (CSIRO, 2007). Sonchus species have previously been the target of biological control in Canada (Peschekn, 1984 in CSIRO, 2007). Preliminary surveys for biological control agents have been made in southern France and northern Europe (Scott & Jourdan, 2005; Peschken, 1984). Currently the rust fungus Miyagia pseudosphaeria and an unidentified eriophyid mite species are two widespread organisms in Australia with potential for control. The CSIRO project will focus on determining the impact of these potential control agents on related native Australian species ( Sonchus hydrophilus and Actites megalocarp and on weedy S. oleraceus and S. asper (CSIRO, 2007).

SOURCES:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonchus_oleraceus

http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=1451

http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=SOOL

http://www.iewf.org/weedid/Sonchus_oleraceus.htm

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/WEEDS/annual_sowthistle.html

http://www.survivalplantsmemorycourse.com/2013/04/sonchus-oleraceus-sow-thistle/

http://www.weeds.org.au/cgi-bin/weedident.cgi?tpl=plant.tpl&state&s&ibra=all&card=H73

http://healingweeds.blogspot.in/2013/03/sow-thistle.html

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-medical-uses-of-sonchus-oleraceus.htm

http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/s/sonchus-oleraceus=sow-thistle.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonchus

Monday 10 March 2014

Achyranthes aspera var. perphyristachya Hook F.

Prickly Chaff-flower-- An important medicinal plant !!
BOTANICAL NAME: Achyranthes aspera var. perphyristachya Hook F.

FAMILY: Amaranthaceae

ENGLISH NAME: Prickly Chaff-flower, devil's horsewhip.

HINDI NAME: Chirchita, Latjira, Onga.

SANSKRIT NAME: अपामार्ग (apamarga)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: It grows as wasteland herb every where. Since time immemorial, it is in use as folk medicine. It holds a reputed position as medicinal herb in different systems of medicine in India. It is distributed throughout the tropical world. It can be found in many places growing as an introduced species and a common weed. It is an invasive species in some areas, including many Pacific Islands environments.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION:
>>plant: An erect or subscandent annual herb upto 1m high.

>>stem: Angular, ribbed, thickened above the node, more or less densely hairy.

>>leaves: Opposite, elliptic or obovate, form an acute or obtuse base, acuminate or rounded at apex.

>>flower: Deflexed, congested near the apex of the axis, perfect, bracts and bracteoles subequal.

>> fruit: An utricle, oblong-cylindric, truncate at apex, rounded at base.

>>seeds: Subcylinderic, truncate at apex, reddish brown.

>>flowering and fruiting: Sept. - Dec.

USEFUL PART: All parts

TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USES: According to Ayurveda, it is bitter, pungent, heating, laxative, stomachic, carminative and useful in treatment of vomiting, bronchitis, heart disease, piles, itching abdominal pains, ascites, dyspepsia, dysentery, blood diseases etc. In Uttar Pradesh the plant is used for a great many medicinal purposes, especially in obstetrics and gynecology, including abortion, induction of labor, and cessation of postpartum bleeding.The Maasai people of Kenya use the plant medicinally to ease the symptoms of malaria.

AYURVEDIC PREPARATION: 
>>Apamarga Taila, Agnimukha etc.
>>According to Ayurveda, it is bitter, pungent, heating, a laxative, a stomachic, a carminative and useful for the treatment of vomiting, bronchitis, heart disease, piles, itching, abdominal pains, ascites, dyspepsia, dysentery and blood diseases (Flora of the Indian Desert, M.M. Bhandari. 287-88. 1990).

PHARMACOLOGY: Plant shows significant abortifacient activity in mice and rabbits. An n-butanol extract has been found to possess contraceptive efficiency in rats which might be assigned to its potent estrogenicity.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: >>Plant yields achyranthine.
>>Achyranthes aspera contains triterpenoid saponins which possess oleanolic acid as the aglycone.
>>Ecdysterone, an insect moulting hormone, and long chain alcohols are also found in Achyranthes aspera

OTHER USES:>>Useful for reclamation of wastelands.
>>Leaf is consumed as potherb.
>>Seeds rich in protein, cooked and eaten.
>>Used in religious ceremonies in India. It is one of the 21 leaves used in the Ganesh Patra Pooja done regularly on Ganesh Chaturthi day.


SOURCES:>>http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/cropfactsheets/onga.html

>>http://scholarsresearchlibrary.com/JNPPR-vol1-iss1/JNPPR-2011-1-1-1-14.pdf

>>http://www.himalayahealthcare.com/herbfinder/achyranthes-aspera.htm

>>http://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/32866

>>http://www.101herbs.com/achyranthes-aspera.html

>>http://www.agriculturejournal.org/volume1number1/pharmacognostic-characterization-and-phytochemical-screening-of-achyranthes-aspera-linn/

>>http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Prickly%20Chaff%20Flower.html

>>http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Achyranthes+aspera

Thursday 6 March 2014

Posted by Rahul Sharma Posted on 05:59 | 1 comment

Mazus reptans (Creeping Mazus)

 Mazus reptans

Creeping Mazus !!

BOTANICAL NAME: Mazus reptans

FAMILY: Phrymaceae (lopseed) 

COMMON NAMES: creeping mazus

OCCURENCE: The low perennial plant is native to the Himalayas region of Asia.

BOTANICAL NAME: 
>>Mazus reptans is a herbaceous plant with alternate, simple leaves, on creeping and rooting stems.

>>Mazus reptans is a mat-forming perennial with rosettes of lance-shaped toothed leaves.

>>The plant, also known as the Lippenmäulchen in German, is a persevering herbaceous plant with growth heights of under 6 inches (15 cm), and a spread of 6–12 inches (15–30 cm).

>> Features narrow, bright green leaves (to 1" long) that form a dense, attractive carpet of foliage which remains green throughout the growing season and well into the fall. Foliage is evergreen in warm winter climates.

>>The flowers are purple-blue to white, borne in spring and summer.

>>The flower crown is 2-lipped and violet-blue to pink or white, inside with white and yellow spots.

>>The period of bloom reaches from Spring through Summer.

>>The capsule fruits which contain small seeds are formed.

>>Tolerate: Wet Soil

GARDEN USES:@Excellent ground cover for small areas. Also effective grown between stepping stones or in rock gardens.
@Accent: Good Texture/Form
@Alpine & Rock
@Lawn Substitute
@Between Flagstones
@Containers
@Edging
@Evergreen
@Ground Cover

CULTURE:Easily grown in average, medium to wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, rich soils. Tolerates foot traffic and an infrequent mowing. Six plants per square yard are sufficient to fill in area of that size.

CULTIVATION: Mazus reptans is cultivated as an ornamental plant, for use as a groundcover in gardens and container gardening. Creeping mazus can quickly form a dense ground-hugging carpet of bright green foliage, with showy seasonal flowers. It's fingernail sized lance-shaped toothed leaves typically remain green throughout the growing season, and it is evergreen in hardiness zones 5—8. It spreads quickly due to the stems rooting.
The plant is best grown in moist but well-drained soil, receiving irrigation from 'average' up to 30 centimetres (12 in)/year. It prefers protected full sun to half-shade locations.
Creeping mazus is used in smaller open areas, between stepping stones in paths and patios, a trailing plant in pots, and in flower beds.
It can also be used as a beneficial ground cover for grape vines (Vitis spp.), or the spring foliage of bulbs.

SOURCES:# http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazus_reptans

#http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=e190

# http://www.finegardening.com/plantguide/mazus-reptans.aspx

# http://www.jeeperscreepers.info/seeplant.html?plantnumber=1.356.050


# http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/MARE.html

# http://www.thompson-morgan.com/flowers/flower-plants/perennial-and-biennial-plants/mazus-reptans/t10912TM

# http://www.perennials.com/plants/mazus-reptans-albus.html

# http://www.gardenguides.com/122933-summer-plants-india.html

# http://www.learn2grow.com/plants/mazus-reptans-alba/

Sunday 2 March 2014

Posted by Rahul Sharma Posted on 06:38 | No comments

Cardamine hirsuta L. (BITTERCRESS )

Cardamine hirsuta L.
BITTERCRESS !!

BOTANICAL NAME: Cardamine hirsuta L.

FAMILY: Brassicaceae (or Cruciferae) [Mustard family]

COMMON NAMES: The most used common name is bittercress, others include: pepperweed, shotweed, snapweed, ad infinitum. Snapweed is the name of choice in British Columbia.

OCCURENCE: A native, annual to biennial plant found in open and cultivated ground, and on rocks and walls throughout the UK. Hairy bittercress is recorded up to 3,800 ft. It is a common weed of gardens, greenhouses, paths, railways and waste ground. It is a particular problem in container-raised plants from nurseries and garden centres.

Hairy bittercress is variable in size and leaf shape. Waved bittercress, C. flexuosa, closely resembles hairy bittercress and is also variable in habit. It is usually annual or biennial but occasionally perennial. A related introduced weed, New Zealand bittercress, C. corymbosa, has become troublesome in polytunnels. It is similar in appearance to hairy bittercress and has the same explosive seedpods but is generally smaller.

HABITAT: Plants form a small mounded clump generally 4 to 8 inches tall and wide. However, during warm summer months, bittercress generally grow much smaller. Often, many seedlings germinate in a small area so that they appear as a large, dense mat.

ORIGIN: Field mustard is native to Europe but has become naturalized throughout North America.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: # This weed has a tremendous variety of common names, most relating to the way seed propel from the silique (seed pods).

# Life cycle: winter annual; Most prolific from late fall through early spring. This weed is most problematic in propagation and overwintering. Despite being a winter annual, bittercress will germinate and grow throughout the year due to the cool environment provided by daily overhead irrigation.

# Biology: Hairy bittercress is found in flower all through the year but mainly from March to August. It is automatically self-pollinated. Seed is shed in May and June and sometimes into the autumn. There are around 20 seeds per seedpod. The average seed number per plant is 600 but a large plant may yield several thousand seeds. Plants can be found in fruit for 8 months of the year. There is little germination of the fresh seeds. The seed after-ripens at high temperatures. The higher the temperature the greater the temperature range at which subsequent germination will take place. Germination is increased by a period of dry storage.
Hairy bittercress seed germinates from April to December. There are peak flushes of seedling emergence from July to August and November to December but this varies in different years. Autumn is the main period of seedling emergence. Hairy bittercress can complete its lifecycle in 5-6 weeks. The cycle is longer in rich soils and shorter in poor ones. Seedlings can survive the severest frost.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION:# stem: Stem arises from basal rosette

# Foliage: Each leaf generally contains 4 to 8 leaflets arranged alternately along the rachis.

# Flower: Flowers occur in racemes. Each flower has 4 white petals, generally 3 to 5 mm in diameter.

# Seed or seed pods: Seed pods of bittercress are known as siliques, in fact, seed pods of all plants in the mustard family are considered siliques. Siliques are a dry, two-sided, dehiscent fruit.

# Cotyledon or seedling: Cotyledons are round, and first true leaves are often simple and club-shaped (same general shape as leaflets on older foliage).

# Roots: taproot

# Bittercress and aphids: As if bittercress weren't bad enough by itself, it also is a refuge for aphids.

PERSITENCE AND SPREAD: Hairy bittercress forms a relatively persistent soil seedbank.
When the seedpods are ripe the seeds are dispersed explosively for up to 1 m if the plants are shaken by the wind or by weeding operations. The seeds become sticky when wet and can be spread on tools and clothing.

MANAGEMENT: Seedlings should be killed by early cultivations and regular hoeing to prevent hairy bittercress plants flowering and setting seed. Stem fragments are capable of re-rooting following cultivation in moist conditions. Hairy bittercress seedlings should be removed from container plants before the weed can set and shed seeds. The standing areas must also be kept weed-free. Improved drainage may discourage this moisture-loving weed.

SOURCES:
>>http://oregonstate.edu/dept/nursery-weeds/weedspeciespage/bittercress/bittercress_page.html

>>http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicweeds/weed_information/weed.php?id=84

>>http://www.plant-identification.co.uk/skye/cruciferae/cardamine-hirsuta.htm

>>http://the3foragers.blogspot.in/2012/03/hairy-bittercress.html


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