By Dr Kasturi Desai
Two decades ago, Sunday mornings during the month of Shravan used to be great fun for Goan children. It was then that the kids were asked to go and fetch different types of leaves for their mothers. These leaves were used in the Aitar Pooja.

The children learnt to identify the plants; they knew where these plants grew and throughout the year, they protected them as they knew they would need them later. But, gone are those days, as now kids have no time to fetch these leaves and of course many of them do not live in the vicinity of plants. But knowing about a few plants is always useful as they can be used in times of crisis. Most of these plants have some or the other medicinal uses.
Around sixteen types of leaves are required every Sunday and we shall learn to identify at least a few this time. One interesting common plant that is required is Hundrache kaan (meaning ear of a rat) botanically referred to as Emilia sonchifolia. It is a shiny slender herb about 12-18 cm in length erect or branched from the base. The leaves are variable, the lower ones with stalk, elongated, the margins may be deeply or slightly cut. The flowers are purplish, many arranged in a bunch. A decoction of the plant is used to bring down fever. It is also used in bowel complaints. The juice of the leaf is a handy treatment for cuts and wounds. The leaf juice is also administered in combination with other plants for intermittent fevers and asthma. The leaf juice is also used to treat eyesores.
Another plant from the same group is Soshyache Kan (meaning ear of a rabbit), Elephantopus scaber. The local names are provably given because of the shape of the leaves. This is an erect herb that gives out many stout roots. The plant is well branched, with white hair. Leaves spread out on the ground, almost long, the margin being cut, more or less hairy on both the surfaces. The flowers are violet in colour, small and in bunch. The leaf juice is used to expel intestinal worms in children.
The next leaf is Kavdyache fou, which means flat rice of the crows. The plant belongs to the grass family and it is so called because the seeds of the plant are eaten by crows and other birds. Botanically it is Eragrostis unioloides. A decoction of the leaves is a household remedy for cold.
The next plant is from the family of the shoe flower. It is Sida rhombifolia. It is locally known as Tabkadi or Ati-bala. The plant is an erect hairy shrub. The leaves are somewhat oval shaped, having toothed margin. The flowers are yellow in colour. The plant is used to cure rheumatism, neurological disorders and general debility. A steam bath using this plant is very relaxing. To get relief from pains of joints, rheumatism and other muscular pains, a few leaves are boiled in any oil like til or coconut and massaged. The leaves are internally taken to treat problems of difficult urination, diarrhoea and fever. This plant is also used commercially.
The next plant that we will talk about is Sitachi Tikli or Desmodium triflorum. This is a perennial (life cycle more than two years) trailing herb. Numerous branches are present and the roots come from the nodes. The leaves are trifoliate, oval shaped. The flowers are usually pinkish and sometimes white in colour. The entire plant is used to improve milk production in lactating mothers. The plant is used to treat dysentery, diarrhoea, convulsions, cough and bronchitis. A decoction of the plant is used to get relief from intestinal gas problems and from burning sensation in the digestive tract. The juice of the plant is applied externally to treat wounds, sores and abscesses.
Our next collection is a plant from a lower group, the ferns. Ferns have roots, stem and leaves like the higher plants but they do not flower. They reproduce through spores which are often present below the elaborate leaves. This is Adiantum lonulatum, in Konkani Ghodyachi paolan, meaning hooves of horses. The leaves indeed look so! The plant is known for its essential oil present in them and the entire fern is used as a tonic.
If one takes note of the local names, we find that they are very descriptive and help in identification. Moreover, the ailments they help to cure are very common to the season.