Common name: Two-toothed Chaff Flower, Ox knee, Pig's knee • Tamil: Sigappu Nayurivi • Sanskrit: Apamarga • Nepalese: दतिवन Datiun, रातो अपमार्ग Rato apamarga
Botanical name: Achyranthes bidentata Family: Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family)
Two-toothed Chaff Flower is an erect, perennial herb, 0.7-1.2 m tall,
distributed in hilly districts of India, Java, China and Japan. Stem green
or tinged purple, with opposite branches. Leaf stalk 0.5-3 cm, hairy; leaf
blade elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, rarely oblanceolate, 4.5-12 × 2-7.5
cm. Flower spikes terminal or axillary, 3-5 cm; rachis 1-2 cm, white hairy.
Flowers dense, 5 mm. Tepals shiny, lanceolate, 3-5 mm, with a midvein, apex
acute. Stamens 2-2.5 mm; pseudostaminodes slightly serrulate, apex rounded.
Utricles yellowish brown, shiny, oblong, 2-2.5 mm, smooth. Seeds light
brown, oblong, 1 mm. Seed are cooked and eaten. A good substitute for
cereal grains in bread-making, they have often been used for this purpose
during famine. Flowering: July-September.
Leaves are used as a vegetable in the same manner as spinach.
Medicinal uses: Traditional Chinese herb used to nourish the
kidney and liver, drain 'dampness' and promote circulation. Prescribed for
difficult urination, painful urethritis, suppressed menstruation. Commonly
used to treat traumatic injuries, stiffness and pain of the lower back and
loins and for weakness in the legs and feet. Do not use during pregnancy.
| Photographed in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. |
Identification credit: Akramul Hoque
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