Weed Herbarium

Pani-kula

Common Name: Pani-kula
Scientific Name: Pogostemon auricularis (L.) El-Gazzar & L. Watson
Family Name: Lamiaceae
Type: Broad leaf

Identification Notes

EPPO Code

POTAU

Life Cycle

Annual

Morphology

Stem: blunty 4-angular, thickened above the nodes, densely pilose; Leaves: opposite, thin, lower ones petioled (up to 1 cm), higher ones subsessile, elliptic to ovate, coarsely dentate (except near the base), 2.5 - 8.5 x 0.8 - 5 cm, base obtuse, apex acute, the nerves pilose on both sides, lower leaf surface densely dark green dotted; Flowers: dense, hairy, cylindrical, terminal and shortly peduncled.

Growing season

Rabi & Kharif

Germination period

July - February

Flowering period

July - February

Propagation

By seeds

Habitat

Waterlogged areas in grasslands. Paddy fields, road sides, near drains, wet places.

Weed potential

A weed of minor importance.

Control measure

Manual and Herbicide

Recommended herbicide

Distribution

P. auricularius is distributed from India throughout Southeast Asia and southern China but is not recorded from the Lesser Sunda Islands or Australia.

Medicinal properties

Used for stomach ailments of children. Recorded as a potential cure for cancer.

Department of Agronomy

Bangladesh Agricultural University