Weed Herbarium

Department of Agronomy

Bangladesh Agricultural University

Khet Papri

Common Name: Carpet-weed
Scientific Name: Oldenlandia corymbosa L.
Family Name: Rubiaceae
Type: Broadleaf

Identification Notes

Oldenlandia corymbosa Photo 1
Oldenlandia corymbosa Photo 1
Oldenlandia corymbosa Photo 2
Oldenlandia corymbosa Photo 3
EPPO Code
OLDCO
Life Cycle
Perennial
Morphology
Stem: erect, unarmed; Leaves: simple, opposite, quite entire, stipulate, lanceolate, acuminate, very short petioled, stipules not connate, short; Inflorescence: cymes, spreading, many flowered; Fruit: a capsule, small, obovoid, many seeded
Growing season
Rabi and Kharif
Germination period
April to September
Flowering period
September to December
Propagation
By seed and by the rooting nodes
Habitat
Grassland with long or short grass, bushland, montane scrub, shallow soil on rocks, sandy river ridges, furrows and dry ponds on black-cotton soil, cultivated and disturbed ground, levee of crop fields and irrigation channel, at elevations from sea level to 2,300 metres.
Weed potential
Weed of minor importance.
Control measure
Prevention, Eradication and Cultural Control
Recommended herbicide
Pendimethalin, Metribuzin and Imazethapyr
Distribution
Widespread through tropical and subtropical Africa; Arabia, subtropical and tropical Asia to New Guinea.
Medicinal properties
The leaves are pounded, soaked in warm water and the liquid drunk to treat stomach disorders (Ruffo et al. 2002). They are used externally as a poultice to treat sores and sore eyes. The entire plant is used in decoction as an anthelmintic, antirheumatic, depurative, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, febrifuge, pectoral and stomachic (Chopra et al. 1986). In India, it is a common ingredient in mixtures used internally to treat remittent fevers, gastric irritation, nervous depression and as a tonic, and is also used to treat jaundice and other liver conditions. The juice of the plant is applied to the hands and feet to cool them when the patient has a fever[240]. The roots are reported to have vermifuge properties (Chopra et al. 1986).
References

[1] Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B. 2002. Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania. Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi. ISBN 9966-896-60-0.

[2] Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. 1986. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.