Family: Asteraceae

Synonym: Aster canadensis,Caenotus canadensis, Erigeron canadensis.Conyza parva,Conyzella canadensis,   Erigeron myriocephalus. Erigeron pusillus, Erigeron setiferus, Erigeron strictus, Leptilon canadense, Leptilon pusillum, Marsea canadensis, Senecio ciliates, Trimorpha canadensis.

Common Name: Canada Fleabane, Horseweed, Canadian horseweed.

Local Name: Gujju ghaa (गुजू घा)

Gujju ghaa is a annual herbaceous plant of Western Himalaya commonly seen growing up to an altitudes of 3000 m. There are two plant called by the same local name gujju ghaa in Western Himalaya, but identified by two different botanical names viz. C. bonariensis and C. canadensis of family Asteraceae.

Image showing both C. bonariensis and C. canadensis growing simultaneously.

As these are closely related with each other and show quite similar appearance. C. bonariensis seems superficially similar to C. canadensis and for a layman both the plant appears same. but C. bonariensis can be distinguished from C. canadensis by its (C. canadensis) finer, glabrous, yellow-green flower heads, with distinct white ray florets on a much taller plant and broader, greener, shallowly toothed leaves or coarsely toothed margins with distinct hairs on the margins. C. bonariensis flowering starts much earlier (early April) than C. canadensis.

l. C. canadensis leaf ll. C. bonariensis leaves in different maturity stages.

Plant we are discussing here with local name gujju ghaa is Conyza canadensis. It is found in a variety of habitat like on waste and cultivated land, walls, sandy soils, sand dunes, gardens, along roadsides, pathways and open grassy hills. Like C. bonariensis it also harbours various insect pests & if put in pet and human beds helps to keep away fleas. That’s the reason provably common name Canada Fleabane and local name gujju ghaa is given to this plant.

Gujju ghaa easily propagate trough seeds and grows luxuriantly in well drained sunny habitat. Due to its luxuriant growth in garden, walls and cultivated field plant is often considered as a weed to be removed.

Yong leaves of gujju ghaa are edible and used as potherb along with other available green of the summer season. Leaves are aromatic and can also be dried for later use. Leaves are used as a food spice for its aromatic flavor in various food preparations. Whole plant is an excellent source of an essential oil that can be used commercially as a flavoring agent . For most of people gujju ghaa is a noxious weed to be removed and very few people here in Western Himalaya know about its edible uses and utilize this plant as a wild food plant.

Collecting young leaves of gujju ghaa

Gujju ghaa is harvested from wild habitat as a source of food, medicine and material for local personal use only.

Gujju ghaa Plant:

Plant is erect herbaceous annual with sparsely hairy stems growing upto 1-2 m tall.

Root is long taproot, stem is unbranched at the base but branched nearer the apex.

 

Young plant of gujju ghaa

The leaves are slender, 2-10 cm long and up to 1 cm broad, with a coarsely toothed margin.

The flowers are produced in dense inflorescences 1 cm in diameter, with a ring of white or pale purple ray florets and a center of yellow disc florets, that quickly fade into silky white tufts.

Edible leaves can be harvested from pre- summer to rainy season of the year.Seeds are available from rainy to autumn period of the year.

Edible Uses:

Young leaves of gujju ghaa are cooked as potherb usually with other available green of summer season. Leaves are aromatic and can be used as a spice or condiment to flavor food items, so these can be a good addition to various food preparation like pakoras, kachru, potato fingers etc. Leaves can be dried for this purpose, to ensure their availability round the year. Seeds and seedlings are also edible and can be an addition to poha, oats and any sweet dishes.

Harvested young leaves of gujju ghaa for cooking

Vegetable/ Saag:

 Ingredients:

Young leaves and shoot terminals of gujju ghaa exclusively or in combination with other wild potherbs, 1 kg; mustard oil, 2 table spoons; coriander powder 1 table spoon; fenugreek powder, ½ table spoon; cumin seed ¼ table spoon; turmeric powder, 1/4 table spoon; red chilies, 2-3; chopped onions 2-4; garlic, 4-5 cloves; ginger paste ½ table spoon and salt according to taste.

For making vegetable additional ingredients required are half boiled medium sized potatoes.

Boiled leaves of gujju ghaa and potato

Method:

For making saag boil chopped gujju ghaa leaves they become soft. Then mesh manually or in a mixer. Then sauté with hot mustard oil and the spices listed before in sequence. This sauted saag is then ready and can be served as such or can be mixed with 2 or 3 chopped onion and cooked for another 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Gujju ghaa saag ready to serve.

For vegetable preparation saute half boiled potato in hot mustered oil along with spices listed above in same sequence. Now add to it  boiled and ground  gujju ghaa leaves paste. Cook for another 5-8 minutes. Garnish with garam masala and serve with rice or chapatti.

Gujju ghaa and potato vegetable ready to serve.

Masala oats:

Masala oats is a quick morning breakfast cooked with oats, spices with or without curd. 

Ingredients:

Gujju ghaa fresh young leaves, 1-2 cup amount; oats, 3 cup amount; curd/ butter milk, cup amount; olive oil, 2-3 table spoon;3 chopped medium sized onion, 2, tomato, 1; red or green chilies, 3-4, ajwain (carom seeds), ¼ tea spoon, turmeric powder, 1/4 table spoon; black pepper, ¼ tea spoon, mint and coriander leaves,1/2 cup amount; salt according to taste.

Method:

Saute gujju ghaa leaves in hot oil with spices listed above and cook till these are soft. Add  oats and water in equal amount. Cook for 2-3 minutes and add curd/ butter milk & ajwain,  Cook till oats are soft add garam masala for garnishing. Mix well and serve.

Masala oats prepared with gujju ghaa leaves ready to serve.

 Nutrient Analysis:

Per 100g of dry weight the leaves have a small amount of protein and fat, more fiber, good amount of carbohydrates, 8.2 grams ash, 1010 mg of calcium, 280 mg phosphorus, and 2610 mg potassium. Fresh leaves contain 0.2 – 0.66% essential oil 1.

Seek professional advice before treating this plant medicinally.

Medicinal Uses:

An astringent herb, it is taken for gastro-intestinal problems such as diarrhea and dysentery. The herb is occasionally used as a diuretic for bladder problems to clear toxins in rheumatic conditions and to treat gonorrhea and other urinogenital diseases 2. It is said to be a very effective treatment for bleeding hemorrhoids 3. The whole plant is antirheumatic, astringent, balsamic, diuretic, emmenagogue, styptic, tonic and vermifuge 4,5. The leaves are experimentally hypoglycemic 6. The essential oil found in the leaves is used in the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery and internal hemorrhages 4, 6. It is a uterine stimulant and is also said to be valuable in the treatment of inflamed tonsils plus ulceration and inflammation of the throat 4.7. A tea of the boiled roots is used to treat menstrual irregularities 7.

Chemical constituents:

Plant contains a volatile oil, flavonoids, terpenes, plant acids and tannins 2.

Other Uses:

Gujju ghaa is an excellent source of an essential oil because this plant is easily available, so easy and free source for oil extraction that can be used commercially for flavoring sweets. Plant can be a good source of earning for local people. Plant is locally burn to smoke in rainy season to repel or keep away the insect.

References:

  1. http://www.eattheweeds.com/conyza-canadensis-herb-fire-food.
  2. Purohit SS, Sharma AK, Prajapati ND, Kumar T. (2009); A handbook of medicinal plants: a complete source book. 2:352-3.
  3. Chevallier. A. (1996); The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley. London, ISBN, 9-780751-303148.
  4. Grieve, M. (1984). Tansy. A Modern Herbal. Penguin Books Ltd, Middlesex, Great Britain, 789-790.
  5. Chiej. R. (1984). Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants.
  6. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. (1985); Medicinal Plants of China reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4
  7. Weiner, M. A. (1980). Earth medicine-earth food: plant remedies, drugs, and natural foods of the North American Indians. Macmillan.

204 thoughts on “Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquis- Gujju ghaa (गुजू घा)

  1. I simply want to mention I am just newbie to blogging and site-building and definitely savored this blog. Most likely I’m planning to bookmark your website . You amazingly have wonderful articles and reviews. Cheers for sharing with us your webpage.

  2. I simply couldn’t go away your website prior to suggesting that I extremely loved the usual information an individual provide in your visitors? Is going to be again ceaselessly in order to check out new posts.

  3. Pingback: Temp EMail
  4. Id need to check with you here. Which isn’t something I normally do! I get pleasure from reading a put up that will make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to remark!

  5. You’re so awesome! I do not suppose I have read through anything like this before. So good to discover someone with some original thoughts on this subject. Really.. thanks for starting this up. This site is one thing that’s needed on the internet, someone with some originality!

  6. I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an impatience over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again since exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this hike.

  7. You made some good points there. I checked on the web for additional information about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this website.

  8. Aw, this was an incredibly good post. Taking the time and actual effort to produce a really good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a whole lot and don’t manage to get nearly anything done.

  9. I’m amazed, I must say. Seldom do I come across a blog that’s both educative and engaging, and without a doubt, you have hit the nail on the head. The issue is an issue that too few men and women are speaking intelligently about. I am very happy that I found this in my hunt for something concerning this.

  10. Hey! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wonderingif you knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form?I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having difficulty finding one?Thanks a lot!

  11. This is a good tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere. Short but very accurate info… Appreciate your sharing this one. A must read article!

  12. Right here is the perfect web site for everyone who would like to understand this topic. You know so much its almost tough to argue with you (not that I personally will need to…HaHa). You definitely put a fresh spin on a subject which has been written about for many years. Great stuff, just wonderful.

  13. Good day! I could have sworn I’ve visited this blog before but after going through a few of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely delighted I stumbled upon it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back often!

  14. I blog quite often and I truly thank you for your content. Your article has truly peaked my interest. I will take a note of your blog and keep checking for new information about once a week. I subscribed to your RSS feed as well.

  15. I’d like to thank you for the efforts you have put in penning this website. I really hope to check out the same high-grade content by you later on as well. In truth, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to get my very own website now 😉

  16. Having read this I believed it was very enlightening. I appreciate you spending some time and effort to put this informative article together. I once again find myself spending way too much time both reading and posting comments. But so what, it was still worth it.

  17. When I originally commented I seem to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on each time a comment is added I receive four emails with the exact same comment. Is there an easy method you can remove me from that service? Cheers.

  18. Hi, I do think this is an excellent site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I will revisit once again since i have book marked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide other people.

  19. Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon every day. It’s always exciting to read through articles from other writers and use a little something from other sites.

  20. Hi my friend! I want to say that this article is awesome, nice written andcome with almost all vital infos. I would like to look extra postslike this .

  21. Hello my friend! I wish to say that this article is amazing, nice written and include approximately all vital infos. I would like to see more posts like this.

  22. You’re so awesome! I don’t suppose I have read anything like this before. So great to discover someone with genuine thoughts on this subject matter. Seriously.. thanks for starting this up. This website is something that is required on the web, someone with a bit of originality.

  23. Thanks for some other wonderful post. Where else could anyone get that type of information in such a perfect approach of writing? I’ve a presentation subsequent week, and I am on the search for such information.

  24. Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after going through many of the articles I realized it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m certainly pleased I discovered it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back frequently.

  25. I do consider all the ideas you’ve offered to your post.They are very convincing and can definitely work.Nonetheless, the posts are very brief for starters. May you please prolong them a little from subsequent time?Thank you for the post.

  26. I’m impressed, I must say. Seldom do I encounter a blog that’s equally educative and entertaining, and without a doubt, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The issue is an issue that not enough folks are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy I came across this during my search for something relating to this.

  27. Good day! I could have sworn I’ve visited this website before but after looking at a few of the articles I realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m certainly happy I stumbled upon it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back frequently!

  28. Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Many thanks, However I am going through troubles with your RSS. I don’t understand why I am unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting identical RSS issues? Anybody who knows the answer will you kindly respond? Thanks!

  29. Howdy! This blog post couldn’t be written any better! Looking through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He constantly kept preaching about this. I will send this information to him. Fairly certain he will have a great read. Thanks for sharing!

  30. I’m impressed, I must say. Rarely do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and interesting, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The problem is an issue that not enough people are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy I came across this during my search for something concerning this.

  31. Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if you continue this in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  32. May I simply just say what a comfort to discover someone that actually understands what they are discussing on the net. You definitely know how to bring a problem to light and make it important. More people need to look at this and understand this side of your story. I can’t believe you aren’t more popular given that you certainly possess the gift.

  33. I’m extremely pleased to uncover this website. I need to to thank you for ones time due to this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoyed every little bit of it and i also have you book-marked to look at new stuff on your blog.

  34. An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a co-worker who had been conducting a little homework on this. And he actually ordered me dinner simply because I discovered it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending the time to talk about this topic here on your website.

  35. I absolutely love your site.. Great colors & theme. Did you build this amazing site yourself? Please reply back as I’m hoping to create my own website and would love to learn where you got this from or just what the theme is called. Appreciate it.

  36. Aw, this was an incredibly good post. Taking the time and actual effort to produce a really good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a whole lot and never manage to get anything done.

  37. I must thank you for the efforts you’ve put in penning this website. I’m hoping to see the same high-grade content by you in the future as well. In truth, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to get my very own site now 😉

  38. Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article.I’ll make sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post.I’ll definitely comeback.

  39. I’m impressed, I have to admit. Rarely do I come across a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and without a doubt, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The issue is something which not enough people are speaking intelligently about. Now i’m very happy I came across this in my hunt for something relating to this.

  40. Have you ever thought about adding a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is important and everything. But think about if you added some great photos or videos to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with pics and video clips, this blog could certainly be one of the very best in its niche. Terrific blog!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *