කැපුම්කීරිය (Kapum Keeriya) Euphobia hirta

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Image source: keys.trin.org.au

·         Common name: Kapum keeriya

·         Scientific Name: Euphobia hirta

·         Family: Euphorbiaceae

·         Life cycle: Annual

·         Morphology:

Stem: Erect, herbacious plant. 5–11cm long, 3 - 5 mm in diameter

Usually,Unbranched, rarely 3- to 5-branched; stems simple, hispid.

Roots: mainly taproot and fibrous roots.

Leaves:

opposite, lanceolate-oblong, oblong-elliptic or ovate-lanceolate,

1 - 5 cm long, 5 - 13 mm wide,

apex acuminate or obtuse,

base slightly oblique, serrulate or entire, green adaxially, grey-green abaxially, sometimes, with purple spots, pubescent on both surfaces, dense so veins abaxially; petioles 1 - 2 mm long.

Flowers : Inflorescences axillary, composed into cymes 1 - 2 on 4 - 15 mm long stalk; peduncles pubescent involucres. campanulate, pubescent, margins 5- lobed, lobes triangular-ovate; glands 4, subcupular, with appendages at margins; male flowers several.

·         Propagation:

Propagation by seeds.

·         Agricultural usage/importance:

It competes for sunlight, moisture, and besides soil nutrients with crops.

Uses : All parts are used as medicine for dysentery, enteritis, skin eczema, diminish skin inflammation.

·         Control measures:

Hand weeding and mechanical weeding using mammoties.