Sphaeranthus senegalensis


 Images by Balkar Singh, Inserted by Gurcharan Singh (Please click link to see details) 

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Given below are the relevant key characters from Flora of India:
a. Stems not winged —> Sphaeranthus amaranthoides
b. Stems winged:
b-i) wings entire; flower-heads <1 cm across ---> S. africanus
b-ii) wings toothed; heads up to 2.5 cm across; leaves single-dentate —> S. senegalensis

In S. indicus, the leaves are double-dentate.
 
Keys
 1a. Stems not winged or rarely narrowly winged; glomeruli conical, subsessile, brownish;
outer florets not more than 4 —————————2. Sphaeranthus amaranthoides
 b. Stems winged; glomeruli spherical or ovoid, pedunculate, glabrous, white, purple or violet; outer florets more than 4 ————2
2a. Wings entire, glomeruli not more than 1 cm across; peduncles glabrous; involucral bracts not ciliate at apex—-1. Sphaeranthus africanus
 b. Wings toothed; glomeruli up to 2.5 cm across, peduncles pubescent; involucral bracts ciliate at apex——————3
3a. Leaves double-dentate and with stalked glands ———-Sphaeranthus indicus
 b. Leaves single dentate and with sessile glands ————-Sphaeranthus senegalensis
(Ref. Flora of India Vol.13-Asteraceae (Inuleae-Vernonieae) By R.K. Hajra et al.1995. BSI, India) 
 
 

Flora of Haryana: Sphaeranthus indicus from Amin Village kurukshetra: Sphaeranthus indicus
From Village Amin Kurukshetra (260 mts)
Small Herb with aroma
pls validate

did the leaves have a strong smell?
The flowers have pharmacological activity: reduces anxiety at least in mice in the maze tests…

Yes … They were having strong smell

It may be Sphaeranthus senegalensis. leaves single dentate. (Ref. Flora of India Vol.13, by BSI, Calcutta). 

Keys

 1a. Stems not winged or rarely narrowly winged; glomeruli conical, subsessile, brownish;
   outer florets not more than 4  —————————2. Sphaeranthus amaranthoides
  b. Stems winged; glomeruli spherical or ovoid, pedunculate, glabrous,  white, purple or violet; outer florets more than 4 ———————————–2

 2a. Wings entire, glomeruli not more than 1 cm across; peduncles  glabrous; involucral bracts not ciliate at apex  ————————————-1. Sphaeranthus africanus
  b. Wings toothed; glomeruli up to 2.5 cm across, peduncles pubescent; involucral bracts ciliate at apex
      ——————————–3

 3a. Leaves double-dentate and with stalked glands  ———-Sphaeranthus indicus
   b. Leaves single dentate and with sessile glands ————-Sphaeranthus senegalensis

 (Ref. Flora of India Vol.13-Asteraceae (Inuleae-Vernonieae) By R.K. Hajra et al.1995. BSI, India)

As per the suggestion and key provided by dr … I also think this plant should be Sphaeranthus senegalensis Attaching closeup of leaves for validation

 
 
 
References: