Punarnava

Punarnava refers to Boerrhavia diffusa Linn Family: Nyctaginaceae. The dried, mature whole plant is used in traditional medicine. The plant is an herbaceous perennial growing all over India as a common creeping weed and is specially abundant during the rains.

Synonym

B. repens Linn, B. procumbens Roxb, B. verticillata

Figure 9.1 Boerhaavia diffusa

Figure 9.2 Boerhaavia verticillata

Common vernacular names

English: Spreading Hogweed, pig weed, red spiderling

Sanskrit: Punarnava

Hindi: Gadhaparna, Sant

Tamil: Mukkarattai

Telugu: Adhikamamidi, giligeru