Darbh Gavat – दर्भ गवत
It is a harsh rhizomatous perennial grass.
The culms stout, up to 1.2 m high.
Leaf-blades are long, linear and up to 65 cm long, 3.8-10.5 mm
wide when unrolled. Lower leaf-sheaths are leathery, often
densely flabellate towards the base of the stem.
Inflorescence up to 60 cm long, erect or curving outwards from
the main axis.
The inflorescence is a spike, clustered or spaced. Spikelets are 3
to 17 flowered, narrowly ovate to linear- oblong.
Glumes unequal, the lower 0.7–1.5 mm long, the upper 1.1–2 mm
long; lemmas straw-colored or suffused with purple.
Fruit is a caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid.
BOTANICAL NAME
Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf
FAMILY
Poaceae
FLOWERING
July – November
FRUITING
July – November
PROPAGATION
It can be propagated by seeds and vegetative cuttings
PLANT PART USED
Whole Plant
COMMON NAMES:
Daabh;
Hindi: Dabh, Davoli, Durva, Dabhena;
Marathi: Darbha, Daabh;
Bengali: Kush;
Gujarati: Dabhado;
Kannada: Kusha, Dharbe;
Malayalam: Darbha, Darbhappullu;
Sanskrit: Barhi, Darbha, Darbhah, Durbha;
Tamil: Darbhaipul, Taruppai, Acamantakam;
Telugu: Aswalayana, Dabha, Darbha.
USES
It is considered a sacred in Vedic scriptures and is said to purify
the offerings during such rituals.
It is believed to protect food prepared during an eclipse.
It has been used to treat dysentery and menorrhagia in folk
medicine.
A decoction is given to treat retention of urine.
Roots are used as a cooling agent and astringent.
It is used to treat arthritis and cramps.
It is used as a febrifuge and to help with fevers.
It is used in treatment of jaundice.
It has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
It has anti-microbial properties.
It is a diuretic.
