Polycarpaea corymbosa (L.) Lam.

Polycarpaea species are annual or perennial herbs, usually caespitose, stem erect or suberect, simple or much branched from the base and above, angular or terete, glabrous or pubescent, rootstock slender, stout. Leaves simple, opposite or pseudo-verticellate, basal leaves oblong-ovate, cauline leaves linear lanceolate to subulate, base not connate, margin entire, apex acute to sharply acuminate, not succulent, glabrous or pubescent, usually 1-veined, petiole very short in basal leaves, becoming sessile in the cauline leaves, stipules 2 per node, scarious or fimbriate. Inflorescence usually in terminal, compact lax or dense cymes. Flowers bisexual, pedicel spreading or erect in fruit, bracts paired, margins scarious, sepals 5, free, distinct, lanceolate-ovate, margins scarious, apex acute, sometimes colored, petals 5, free, pink, margins erose or irregularly toothed. Stamens 5, filaments distinct, anthers 2-locular, dorsifixed, nectarines present. Ovary superior, unilocular, ovules few to many, staminodes absent, style slender, filiform tri-fid, stigmas 3, subcapitate. Fruit capsule, ovoid-cylindrical, tri valved. Seeds 5-8, pyriform, ovoid, plump, translucent, embryo marginal wings absent.

Flowering class: Dicot Habit: Herb

Flowering and fruiting: August-December

Polycarpaea species flowers are complete, bisexual, i.e., with functional male (androecium) and female (gynoecium), including stamens, carpels and ovary; rarely unisexual. Pollination is entomophilous i.e., by insects, or cleistogamy i.e., by self or allogamy i.e., by cross pollination. Flowering/Fruiting: August-December.

Seeds may be dispersed by autochory i.e., self dispersal, anemochory i.e., wind dispersal, zoochory i.e., dispersal by birds or animals.

Annual or perennial herbs, about 6-15 cm tall, usually caespitose, stem suberect or procumbent, simple or much branched from the base and above, angular or terete, densely tomentose to glabrescent, rootstock slender, stout. Leaves simple, pseudo-verticellate, basal leaves ovate-oblong to linear lanceolate, about 5-12 x 1-3 mm across, cauline leaves linear lanceolate to subulate, base obtuse, margin entire, apex apiculate, aristate with bristles about 1 mm long, usually 1-veined, petiole very short in basal leaves, becoming sessile in the cauline leaves, stipules 2 per node, lanceolate, fimbriate. Inflorescence usually in terminal, compact dichasial, dense cymes. Flowers bisexual, pedicel about 2-4 mm long, bracts paired, margins scarious, shorter than pedicels, sepals 5, free, distinct, lanceolate-ovate, margins scarious, apex acute, about 2-5 mm long, petals 5, free, pink, margins erose or irregularly toothed. Stamens 5, filaments distinct, anthers 2-locular, dorsifixed, nectarines present. Ovary superior, unilocular, ovules few to many, staminodes absent, style slender, filiform tri-fid, stigmas 3, subcapitate. Fruit capsule, ovoid-ellipsoid, about 1-2.5 mm long, tri valved, brown, shiny. Seeds 5-8, pyriform, ovoid, plump, translucent, embryo marginal wings absent.

Polycarpaea species are susceptible to various insect pests, viruses, root rots, powdery mildews and moulds.

Notes: Western Ghats, Plains and Deciduous Forests

Roadsides, near cultivated fields and disturbed places, altitude up to 1200 m.

In the plains and deciduous forests

Not evaluated (IUCN).

Used in Ayurveda, Siddha and folk medicine.

Medicinal