Botanical name: Pluchea indica    Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
Synonyms: Baccharis indica, Placus indicus

Indian Camphor-Weed is a shrub, small, nearly hairless; stems up to 2 ft. Leaves are obovate or inverted-lanceshaped, pointed, apiculate or blunt, minutely sawtoothed, 2-5 cm long, gland dotted, narrowed into a small leaf-stalk. They emit a camphor like smell when crushed, which is probably what gave it its common name. Flower-heads are borne in compound corymbs at branch-ends, 0.6 cm in diameter, velvet-hairy. Outer involucral bracts are broad with rounded tips. Disc florets are bisexual, 3. Ray florets numerous, female. Seed-pods are minute, ribbed, nearly hairless. Pappus white, scanty, spreading. Indian Camphor-Weed is found in W. Bengal and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, parts of SE Asia and Australia.
Medicinal uses: Indian Camphor-Weed is used in several traditional medicinal practices in SE Asia. It is employed in the treatment of various ailments, including lumbago, kidney stones, leucorrhea, inflammation, gangrenous and atonic ulcers, hemorrhoids, dysentery, ocular disorders, pruritic skin, acid reflux, dysuria, abdominal discomfort, scabies, fever, muscle soreness, dysentery, diabetes, and rheumatism, among others. The leaves brewed as tea, is frequently utilized for managing diabetes and rheumatism.

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The flower labeled Indian Camphor-Weed is ...