FoI
Goat Weed
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Goat Weed
aturalized Photo: Vijaya Shougrakpam
Common name: Goat weed, Billy goat weed, Tropical whiteweed • Hindi: जंगली पुदीना Jangli pudina, Visadodi, Semandulu, Gha buti, Bhakumbar • Manipuri: ꯈꯣꯡꯖꯥꯏ ꯅꯄꯤ Khongjai napi • Marathi: Ghanera osaadi • Kannada: ಊರಾಳಗಿಡ Oorala gida, ಹೇಲುಕಸ Helukasa, ಶ್ವೇತಸಹದೇವಿ Shweta sahadevi • Tamil: Pumppillu, Appakkoti • Malayalam: Kattappa, Muriyan pacca • Bengali: Uchunti • Sanskrit: Visamustih • Nepali: भेडा झार Bhedaa Jhaar, बोके घाँस Boke Ghaans, गनमने घाँस Ganamane Ghaans, गनाउने झार Ganaaune Jhaar, सेतो रावन्ने Seto Rawanne, गन्धे Gandhe • Mizo: Vai-len-hlo
Botanical name: Ageratum conyzoides    Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower family)

Goat weed is a common tropical annual herbaceous weed. It is an erect softly hairy annual plant which grows up to a height of 2.5 feet. Oppositely arranged leaves are ovate to lance-like, coarsely rounded, and have toothed margin. Numerous pale blue or whitish flower-heads are 6 mm across, often forming dense domed to flat-topped clusters in leaf axils or end of branches. Flowers most of the year. The stem is often red and has long white hairs. The weak aromatic unpleasant smelling leaves are also covered with fine hair. The dark seeds have scales and ends in a needle-like shape. Goat weed is native to tropical America, but widely naturalized world over. In India it can be seen in the Himalayas, up to 2000 m altitudes.
Medicinal uses: In alternative medicine, ageratum is used against epilepsy and wounds, also used as an insect repellent. In China it is used to treat a variety of conditions, including common colds, headaches, boils, eczema, bleeding wounds, and burns.

Identification credit: Tabish Photographed in Moirang, Manipur & Morni Hills, Haryana.

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