(a) IDENTIFICATION
Local
name: (Igbo): Ata
Common
name: spear grass.
Botanical
name: Imperata cylindrical
Family
: poaceae
Habitat:
It is normally found in clay soil and near the back of streams.
(b) MORPHOLOGY
This is a grass with more or less stout structure
at maturity but when young it is very spinous leaves and needle like. The
leaves are paralled in venation, very thick with sharp edges. The plant is
mainly rhizome.
(c) UTILIZATION
The rhizome of this plant are collected and
washed, cut into pieces and then packed in a bottle containing local gin
(Kaikai) and leaves for about two days. Small gin cup (short) is taken once a
day for curing fever, the plant is used in curing veneral diseases by also
collecting the rhizome and banana, socking them in clear water. The infusion is
taken by the patient at a dosage of a gin cup every day. This can also be
prepared by putting the rhizomes and banana in some quality of palm wine.
(d) CONSERVATION
It
is a wild grass found in clay soil and around streams.
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