Habitat Chota Nagpur, Orissa, Deccan, Karnataka, Anaimalai Hills and Western Ghats from Konkan southwards to Kerala.
English Silverweed.
Siddha/Tamil Unnayangodi. Folk Khedari, Bond vel (Maharashtra).
Action Leaves—a paste is applied externally in cough and quinsy.
Leucaena glauca Benth.
Synonym L. leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit.
Family Mimosaceae.
Habitat The plains of India.
English White Popinac, Lead tree.
Siddha/Tamil Tagarai.
Folk Vilaayati Baval Lasobaval (Gujarat).
Action The bark and leaves contain
16.3 and 3% tannin respectively.
Leaves also contain quercitrin
(0.08%). The toxicity of the plant
is due to an alkaloid leucenine or
372 Leucas aspera Spreng.
leucenol. Beta-and alpha-aminopropionic acid is reported to be identical with mimosine (from Mimosa pudica).
Seeds, in addition to a fatty oil (8.8%), also contain mucilage composed of mannans, glactans and xylans. Stachyose is also reported to be present in the seeds. (Heat treatment of leaves and seeds after moistening lowers the alkaloid content.)
Leucas aspera Spreng.
Family Labiatae; Laminceae.
Habitat Throughout India in cultivated fields, wastelands,
roadsides.
English White Dead Nettle.
Ayurvedic Dronpushpi, Phalepushpaa, Kutambaka.
Siddha/Tamil Thumbai.
Folk Guumaa, Halkusa (smaller var.), Tumbaa.
Action Carminative, antihistaminic, antipyretic, febrifuge, antiseptic. Used in jaundice, anorexia,
