Botanical name : Azolla pinnata var imbricata
Family : Azolaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Plavini, Pasubhojya, Azolla.
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Kashaya, Madhura
Guna : Guru, Snigdha
Virya : Seeta
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Azolla
Hindi : Azolla
Malayalam : Azolla
Distribution – Throughout India in marshy areas and lakes, also cultivated.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
A floating aquatic fern grows spreading over the water. Leaves are hidden, small, alternate, imbricate and bilobed. the lower, achlorophyllous lobe ensuring flotation and the upper, chlorophyllous one developing a cavity that remains in contact with the external environment through a structurally sophisticated pore. The cyanobacterium Anabaena azollae occurs as filaments located on the plant stem apexes and inside the leaf cavities, aid in nitrogen fixation. Adventitious roots are formed on the lower part of the stem and grow vertically in the water. Reproduction is by vegetative manner.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated vata, protein deficiency, emaciation, consumption, and good source of cattle feed.
Useful part : Whole plant.
Photo : Dr. Eby Abraham MD
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