Phenological events and medicinal importance of some weeds of family Asteraceae
Chetna Shrivastava and Aruna Jain
Department of Botany Sarojini Naidu Govt. Girls P.G. Autonomous College Shivaji Nagar, Bhopal (India) Author for correspondence : drarunajain@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Weeds are very significant in the field of Ethnomedicine. Phenological analysis of weeds is also important than their bare knowledge of medicinal use. Phases in the lifecycle of a plant show rhythmic changes in relation to the set of environmental conditions & knowledge about occurrence, period of different phenophases of weeds is more useful to use their different parts for curing various diseases. Present study aims at analyzing the phenological events of weeds Ageratum conyzoides Linn Eclipta prostrata Linn. Tridex procumbens Linn Xanthium strumarium Linn. Lagascea mollis Cav. Caesulia axillaris Roxb. of family Asteraceae along with their medicinal uses. these monsoon and post monsoon flowering weeds complete their life cycle within three to five months. Fruit formation starts with the beginning of peak flowering in all the plant species which usually lasts for three to six weeks. The result of this study provide information of lifecycle of medicinal weed species to the rural people, who depend upon the season for availability of these plants This analysis will provide a great scope for utilizing weeds of Asteraceae to the benefit of rural people besides easy availability for preparation of medicines, since they grow fast and therefore can provide a continuous supply of medicinal products. bag at room temperature for two months without loss of oil content.