CSIR-NEERI Biodiversity Portal

Hogweed / Punarnava

Boerhavia diffusa L.

Botanical name	: Boerhavia diffusa L.
Common Name	: Hogweed / Punarnava
Family	: Nyctaginaceae
Synonym	: Boerha aviarepens Linn.
About	: Common hogweed is a perennial, spreading herb. It is abundantly found in degraded land. It is distributed all over India and Sri-Lanka. The plant is of 1 m in length, Leaves Opposite in unequal pairs, larger ones 25-37 mm long and smaller ones 12-18 mm long ovate-oblong or suborbicular, apex rounded or slightly pointed, base subcordate or rounded, green and glabrous above, whitish below, margin entire or sub-undulate, dorsal side pinkish in certain cases, thick in texture, Flower is Very small, pink coloured, nearly sessile or shortly stalked, 10-25 cm, in small umbells, arranged on slender long stalks, 4-10 corymb axillary and in terminal panicles, perianth tube constricted above the ovary, lower part greenish , upper part pink, funnel-shaped, 3 mm long, tube 5 lobed ,stamen 2-3. Fruit One seeded nut, 6 mm long clavate, rounded, bluntly 5 ribbed, glandular. The flowering happens from July to September. It is used in traditional medicine. The roots are reputed to be diuretic and laxative and are given for the treatment of a jaundice