Ouret lanata

Ouret lanata (synonym Aerva lanata), the mountain knotgrass, is a woody, prostrate or succulent, perennial herb in the family Amaranthaceae, native to the tropics of Africa and Asia. It has been included as occurring in Australia by the US government, but it is not recognised as occurring in Australia by any Australian state herbarium or Plants of the World Online. The plant sometimes flowers in the first year. Ouret lanata is a common weed which grows wild everywhere in the plains of India. The root has a camphor-like aroma. The dried flowers which look like soft spikes, are sold under the commercial names Buikallan and Boor. It is one of the plants included in Dasapushpam, the ten sacred flowers of Kerala. Ouret lanata is known as 'konda pindi aaku' (కొండ పిండి ఆకు) in Telugu because of the 'powdery' appearance of its leaves, but several regional names exist.