Herbarium JCB

Pedalium murex L.

Family : PEDALIACEAE
(PEDALIUM FAMILY OR SESAME FAMILY)
Family (as per The Plant List) : Pedaliaceae
Species : Pedalium murex
Species Name (as per The Plant List) : Pedalium murex L.
Common name : Teeth dropping Plant, Large caltrops
Vernacular name : Bara gokhru, Kadva gokkru (Hin.); Aane-neggilu (Kan.); Yanainerunji (Tam.); Yenuga palleru, Pedda palleru, Mullagadakaya chettu, Yenugumullu (Tel.); Badogo ekuro, Gokara, Gokshura (Ori.); Sthulagokshurah (San.)
Key identification features : A branched herb. Stem is thick and fleshy. Leaves are broadly ovate-oblong, pale green, glaucous with margin irregularly lobed.
Habit : Herb
Flower, Fruit : April-December
Comments : Occasional on plains in wastelands and along moist places. Locals report that the roots when chewed are known to cause teeth to drop.
Conservation Status : Not Evaluated (NE)
Distribution Locality : Tamil Nadu State; Kadapa district, Srikakulam district, West Godavari district (Andhra Pradesh State); Ganjam district, Nuapada district, Puri district (Odisha State)
World Distribution : Tropical Africa, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Indonesia
Literature : Pullaiah et al., 2011 - Flora of Eastern Ghats Vol. 4; H.O. Saxena & M. Brahmam, 1995- Flora of Orissa Vol. 2 ; R. S. Rao et al., 1986 - Flora of West Godavari District ; R. S. Rao and S. H. Sreeramulu, 1986 - Flora of Srikakulam District; Matthew, K.M., The Flora of Tamil Nadu Carnatic, Vol.3 (1). Diocesan Press, Madras. 1983.
Citation : Sankara Rao, K., Arun Singh R., Deepak Kumar, Raja K Swamy and Navendu Page (2016). Digital Flora of Eastern Ghats. http://easternghats.ces.iisc.ernet.in/plants.php?name=Pedalium murex. Downloaded on 2 April 2025.