Aerva javanica

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Aerva javanica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Aerva
Species:
A. javanica
Binomial name
Aerva javanica
(
Schult.
Synonyms[1]

Achyranthes javanica Pers.
Aerva tomentosa

Forssk.

Aerva persica (Burm. f.)
Merr.

Aerva wallichii Moq.
Celosia lanata L.
Iresine javanica Burm.f.
Iresine persica Burm.f.

Aerva javanica, the kapok bush or desert cotton, is a species of plant in the family Amaranthaceae. It has a native distribution incorporating much of Africa (including Madagascar), and the south-west and south of Asia, and it has become adventitious in northern Australia.[2][3]

Description

Aerva javanica (Burm.f.) Schult. in the Pilbara, Western Australia

The plant is herbaceous, multi-stemmed and soft-wooded and bears broad leaves; it often has an erect habit and grows to a height of about 1.6 metres (5 ft 3 in). In Western Australia it tends to grow in sandy soils especially along drainage lines. It flowers between January and October.

Agamospermy, occurs during the development of female gametophyte in the ovule and hence reduction division does not take place in the Megaspore mother cell. The diploid egg is unfertilized and forms the embryo
. Hence daughter plants are exactly clones of the mother.

The species uses

dioecious, meaning male and female flowers are produced on separate individuals.[6]

Uses

This

desert reclamation.[7] It is used for fuel and for fodder for goats. In traditional medicine the seeds are believed to cure headaches.[citation needed] A gargle is made from the plant to try to treat toothache.[8]

The plant has naturalised in northern regions of Australia, as an alien introduction, and is cultivated and utilised by the

Yindjibarndi and Ngarluma people, the English term is Kapok Bush.[11]

References

  1. ^ Aerva javanica at Tropicos
  2. ^ "Aerva javanica". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Aerva javanica (Burm.f.) Schult. Kapok Bush". FloraBase. Western Australian Herbarium. 14 August 2007. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  4. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
    .
  5. PMID 21636394. Open access icon
  6. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1155.88
    .
  7. ^ L R Burdak (1982): Recent advances in desert afforestation, Dehradun, p. 66
  8. ISSN 1996-918X
    .
  9. ISBN 978-0-412-31510-7
  10. ISBN 978-0-8165-2900-1
    )
  11. ^ Burndud (1990). Wanggalili; Yinjibarndi and Ngarluma Plants. Juluwarlu Aboriginal Corporation. p. 17.

External links

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