Herbarium JCB

Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.

Family : APIACEAE
(CARROT or PARSLEY FAMILY)
Family (as per The Plant List) : Apiaceae
Species : Centella asiatica
Species Name (as per The Plant List) : Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.
Common name : Indian Penny wort, Centella
Vernacular name : Kulakudi, Brahma manduki, Brahmi (Hin.); Ondelagu soppu, Urage soppu, Saraswati soppu, Brahmi soppu (Kan.); Vallaarai (Tam.); Brahmi, Saraswataku (Tel.); Talkuni, Thalkuri, Bhui pataki, Duasag, Duvapathro (Ori.); Mandookaparni (San.)
Key identification features : A small slender creeping herb. Stems are with stolons, green to reddish green in colour. Leaves are long-stalked, reniform with rounded apex. Flowers are pinkish to red in colour, borne in small, rounded bunches (umbels). Each flower is partly enclosed in two green bracts.
Habit : Herb
Flower, Fruit : Throughout the Year
Native : Old World tropics
Comments : Occasional in moist places in low lying areas along marshes, stream banks and other water courses. Considered highly medicinal and used in native preparations.
Conservation Status : Least Concern (LC)
Distribution Locality : Throughout Eastern Ghats
World Distribution : Tropical & sub-tropics of the World
Literature : Pullaiah et al., 2007 - Flora of Eastern Ghats Vol. 3; J.L.Ellis, 1987- Flora of Nallamalais Vol. 1; 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; H. O. Saxena and M. Brahmam, 1989 - The Flora of Similipal, Orissa; IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1. ; N.P.Singh, 1988. Flora of Eastern Karnataka; 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=Centella asiatica. Downloaded on 7 June 2025.