Verbenaceae · Premna

Agetha / Indian Headache Tree

Premna serratifolia

ShrubMedicinal
Habit
Shrub
Found in India
Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu & more
Flowering
January-November

Plant Details

Scientific name
Premna serratifolia
Genus
Premna
Habit
Shrub
Habitat
On plains to hills of scrub jungles
Habitat type
Scrub
Distribution
Indo-Malesia
Found in India
Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Puducherry, Telangana, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi
Flowering & fruiting
January-November
Conservation status
Not Evaluated (NE)

Leaf characters

Leaf arrangement
OppositerecordedTwo leaves arise from the stem at the same point, facing each other.Leaves simple, opposite, estipulate; — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Simple leaf type
Leaf type
SimplerecordedA single, undivided leaf blade.Leaves simple, opposite, estipulate; — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Leaf shape
EllipticrecordedWidest at the middle, tapering evenly at both ends.lamina 2.5-8.5 x 2–7.2 cm, elliptic, elliptic-oblong, base acute, obtuse, subcordate or rounded, apex acuminate, mucronate, obtuse, margin entire or subserrate, glabrous above exce — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Entire leaf margin
Leaf margin
EntirerecordedA smooth, unbroken edge with no teeth or notches.lamina 2.5-8.5 x 2–7.2 cm, elliptic, elliptic-oblong, base acute, obtuse, subcordate or rounded, apex acuminate, mucronate, obtuse, margin entire or subserrate, glabrous above exce — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Leaf surface
PubescentrecordedCovered in short, soft hairs.petiole 4–14 mm, slender, pubescent, grooved above; — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Typical of the family

Pinnate venation leaf character
Venation
Pinnate

Characters marked “recorded” are for Agetha itself; the rest are typical of the Verbenaceae family.

Flower & fruit characters

Flower colour
Whiterecorded
Flower arrangement
CorymbrecordedA flat-topped cluster where outer flower stalks are longer than inner ones.Flowers bisexual, greenish-white, in terminal corymbose panicled cymes; — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Typical of the family

Inflorescence
Cyme
Fruit
Drupe

Characters marked “recorded” are for Agetha itself; the rest are typical of the Verbenaceae family — flowering plants only.

Local Names

Hindi
अगेथा Agetha, अरणी Arani, मथन Mathan
Nepali
गिनेरि Gineri
Bengali
ভূত-ভৈরবী Bhuta-Bhairabi, গনিয়ারি Ganiari, গনিয়ারি
Tamil
பசுமுன்னை Pacu-Munnai, தலைவலி மரம் Talaivali Maram, பிரெம்னா செர்ராட்டிஃபோலியா
Telugu
భైరవి Bhairavi, గబ్బు నెల్లి Gabbunelli, కణిక Kanika
Kannada
ಅಗ್ನಿಮಂಥ Agnimantha, ಬಾಚಣಿಗೆ ಮರ Baachanige Mara, ನರವಲು Naravalu
Malayalam
അരണി Arani, കോഴിച്ചെടി Kozhichedi, മുഞ്ഞ Munja
Marathi
अरणि Arani, गणिकारिका Ganikarika, नरवेल Narvel

About Agetha

Indian Headache Tree (Premna serratifolia) belongs to the Verbenaceae family, where it grows as a shrub. In India it has been recorded in Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and 10 other states. It grows in on plains to hills of scrub jungles. Flowering and fruiting run from January to November.

Illustration representing the Verbenaceae family
Botanical family

Verbenaceae

Verbena/Teak family

Agetha belongs to the Verbenaceae family.

The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.

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