Polygonaceae 

Synonyms:

Common names: For P. aviculare: knot-grass, centinode, knot-weed (English); baton du berger, centinode, herbe à cochon (French); Vogelknöterich (German); centinodia, bistorta aviculare, poligono (Italian); ‘asye el-rā‘aī (Arabic), other vernacular names: zeb al-rā‘aī, qaridāb.

Description

Herbaceous or suffruticose glabrous perennial, 50-100 cm. Rhizome thickened. Stems numerous and branched, prostrate. Leaves up to 5x0.5-1.5 cm. deciduous. Inflorescences long, terminal, white.

Flowering

February-December.

Habitat

Waste areas, roadsides.

Distribution

Mediterranean, West Irano-Turanian.

Use

In the badia: Al-Khatīb: wounds.

Field data: not mentioned.

In literature: diarrhoea, kidney and bladder troubles, blood in the urine (infuse), vulnerary (decoction), wounds, brush burns (smoke of green grass when there is no water to prepare a decoction for washing the burn); astringent for wounds (leaves).

Its use as forage has not been scientifically investigated.

Palatability and importance as forage

Grazed by livestock only in case of drought.

Chemical Data

Flavonic pigments: avicularoside, hyperoside, quercitroside, tannin.

Additional Information

Also P. aviculare L. has the same vernacular name and the same use.

References

Bedevian, A. K. 1936. Illustrated Polyglottic Dictionary of Plant names. Cairo, Argus D Papazian Presses.
Ozenda, P. 1991. Flore et végétation du Sahara. Paris, Ed. du CNRS.

Edited by: F. Guiso Gallisai
Information taken from: Sincich, F. 2002. Bedouin Traditional Medicine in the Syrian Steppe. Rome, FAO. 114-115.

All pictures and drawings belong to the author.

The presentation of material in this profile do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and has been taken from interviews with the traditional Bedouin doctor, Al-Khatīb and from data collected directly from Bedouins informants