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aerva

Scientific Name: Aerva

Family: Amaranthaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Aerva: An Overview

The genus Aerva belongs to the Amaranthaceae family. Several species within this genus are known for their varied uses, particularly in traditional medicine.

Considerations for Pets

Some Aerva species are described as having a woody or shrubby growth habit. Keep in mind that:

  • Aerva lanata is noted to be a woody herb.
  • Aerva javanica is a semi-shrubby plant.

Scientific Name and Common Names

  • Scientific Name: Aerva Forssk.
  • Aerva lanata (L.) A. L. Juss. ex Schult. (Synonym: Nerba Aervae lanatae)
  • Aerva javanica (Burm. f.) Juss. ex Schult.
  • Common Names: Mountain Knotgrass (Aerva lanata), Java Aerva (Aerva javanica), Bui (local name), Polpala (Aerva lanata).

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Family: Amaranthaceae
  • Kingdom: Angiosperms (Flowering plants)
  • Genus: Aerva
  • Synonyms/Alternative Scientific Names:
    • Aerva madagassica Suess.
    • Aerva microphylla Moq.
    • Aerva revoluta Balf.f.
    • Aerva sericea Moq.
    • Aerva tomentosa Forssk.
  • Nomen number: 101478

Distribution and Habitat

  • Aerva lanata is native to Asia and Africa.
  • Aerva javanica is relatively widespread across northern Australia.
  • Observed in Naukluft (Likely Aerva leucura).
  • Leaves of Aerva lanata collected from Salem, Tamil Nadu, India.
  • Found in wild, desert areas.

Ecological Role

  • Aerva javanica (Kapok Bush) is recently regarded as a serious environmental weed in northern Australia.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Aerva lanata is described as a woody, prostrate or succulent, perennial herb.
  • Aerva lanata is an erect or prostrate undershrub with a long tap-root.
  • Perennial herbs with alternate leaves.
  • Aerva javanica is a perennial semi-shrubby plant growing in tropical and subtropical dry areas.
  • Aerva leucura gives a reliable show in the herbaceous border from summer to autumn.
  • Shrubby perennial herb to 1.6 m high. Leaves linear to narrow-ovate, 2&#82117 cm long, 0.3&#82111.2 cm wide, bluish-green to whitish-hairy, more hairy on lower surface.
  • Inflorescences consisting of axillary and terminal bracteate spikes, these densely white-woolly.

Traditional Uses

  • Aerva javanica is traditionally used for the treatment of wound healing, cough, diarrhoea, ulcer and hyperglycaemia.
  • Aerva lanata is mainly used as a raw material for medicines and is believed to cure various diseases.

Cytogenetical Information

  • Cytogenetical studies have been performed on Aerva javanica (Soliman, M. A.: Cytogenetical studies on Aerva javanica (Amaranthaceae).

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Aerva lanata seeds have been studied for invitro antihelmentic activity.

Resources and Further Information

  • Tropicos database: Genus: Aerva. Family: Amaranthaceae. Nomen number: 101478.
  • Aerva revoluta: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T44754A10946301.en
  • Aerva javanica TSN 506580: TSN 506580
  • Wikimedia Commons: Aerva on Wikimedia Commons