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:Family: Nyctaginaceae
:Chromosome number: ''n'' = 52
== Vernacular names ==
All plant parts of ''Boerhavia repens'' contain flavonoid glycosides and the alkaloid punarnavine. A methanol extract of the entire plant inhibited bone resorption induced by parathyroid hormone in mouse bone tissue culture; some flavonoid glycosides were isolated as active compounds.
== Botany Description ==
Annual to perennial, prostrate or straggling herb, with stems up to 60 cm long, with a slender taproot; stem few- to much-branched, fleshy, green, often flushed with red, finely hairy or glabrescent, nodes swollen. Leaves opposite, simple, unequal; stipules absent; petiole 0.5–1.5 cm long; blade broadly ovate to elliptical, 1–2.5 cm × 0.5–1.5 cm, base cuneate, rounded or truncate, apex rounded to acute, margins sinuate, pale green to whitish beneath, finely hairy, glandular hairy or glabrescent. Inflorescence an axillary, congested, irregular umbel or cyme, ( 3–)5–7(–13)-flowered; peduncle (2–)4–7 cm long; bracts and bracteoles small, fimbriate, caducous. Flowers bisexual, regular; pedicel (0–)1–1.5 mm long; perianth tubular-campanulate, distinctly constricted halfway, lower part ellipsoid, surrounding the ovary, 5-ribbed, green, upper part 5-lobed, up to 3.5 mm × 3 mm, lobes emarginate, white, pink or mauve, soon falling; stamens ( 1–)2(–3), slightly exserted; ovary superior, seemingly inferior, 1-celled, style slightly exserted, stigma head-shaped. Fruit an achene enclosed by the thickened lower part of perianth (collectively called anthocarp); anthocarp obovoid to ellipsoid, 3–3.5 mm × 1.5–2 mm, apex rounded, 5-ribbed, with rounded ribs, with glandular hairs all over, 1-seeded. Seed ovoid, pale brown. Seedling with epigeal germination.
''Boerhaviarepens'' comprises 5–20 species, depending on can be found flowering and fruiting throughout the species conceptyear, and includes several variable pantropical weeds with complex nomenclatural historieswhen sufficient water is available.
''Boerhavia repens'' can be found flowering comprises 5–20 species, depending on the species concept, and fruiting throughout includes several variable pantropical weeds with complex nomenclatural histories. === ''Boerhavia coccinea'' ===In West Africa the yearleaf pulp of ''[[Boerhavia coccinea]]'' Mill., when sufficient water which is availablerelated to ''Boerhavia repens'', mixed with peanut oil is burnt and the smoke inhaled to calm toothache. An infusion of the root is taken to treat liver problems. In Nigeria the roots are ground with other herbs and taken in water as a vermifuge. The leaves are sometimes cooked and eaten as a potherb. The nomads of the Sahara cook the protein-rich seeds in a soup.
== Ecology ==
== Correct citation of this article ==
Muzila, M., 2006. '''Boerhavia repens''' L. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>. Accessed {{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}.
