False Daisy

Eclipta prostrata, the false daisy, is a species of plant in the family Asteraceae. It is widespread across much of the world.

This plant has cylindrical, grayish roots. Solid, circular, purplish stems with white fine hairs 0.8m. Leaves arranged in opposite pairs, hairy in two-sided, lanceolate, serrated 2–12.5 cm long, 5–35 mm wide.
The solitary flower heads are in diameter, with white florets. The bumpy achenes are compressed and narrowly winged.

This species is native to North and South America. It also grows commonly in moist places in warm temperate to tropical areas worldwide. It can be found in habitats such as on marsh edges, along lake shores and river banks, and in brackish marshes and cypress depression swamps.

Traditional uses: The plant has traditional uses in Ayurveda. In Hindi speaking regions of India, it is known as bhangra or bhringaraj. Wedelia calendulacea is known by the same names, so the white-flowered E. alba is called white bhangra and the yellow-flowered W. calendulacea is called yellow bhangra.

In Southeast Asia, the dried whole plant is used in traditional medicine, although there is no high-quality clinical research to indicate such uses are effective. The Balinese cook it as a vegetable, the Javanese consume this herb (orang-aring or urang-aring) as part of their lalap, they also infuse it with coconut oil as a kind of hair oil popular until the 1970s Its leaves are extracted as a black hair dye, and in tattooing.

Phytochemistry: Eclipta prostrata contains various phytochemicals, such as coumestans, polypeptides, polyacetylenes, thiophene derivatives, steroids, sterols, triterpenes, and flavonoids.