Thanks, Anil ji, Some extracts from Wikipedia link (for pictures & more details, click on the link): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epazote
*Epazote*, *Wormseed*, *Jesuit's Tea*, *Mexican Tea*, or *Herba Sancti Mariæ * (*Dysphania ambrosioides*, formerly *Chenopodium ambrosioides*) is a herb<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb>native to Central America <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_America>, South America<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_America>, and southern Mexico <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico>. It is an annual<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annual_plant>or short-lived perennial plant <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perennial_plant>, growing to 1.2 m tall, irregularly branched, with oblong-lanceolate leaves<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf>up to 12 cm long. The flowers <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flower> are small and green, produced in a branched panicle <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panicle> at the apex of the stem. As well as in its native areas, it is grown in warm temperate to subtropical areas of Europe <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe> and the United States<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States>( Missouri <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri>, New England<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_England>, Eastern United States <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_United_States>)[ 1] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epazote#cite_note-0>, sometimes becoming an invasive <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasive_species> weed<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weed> . Culinary uses Epazote is used as a leaf vegetable<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf_vegetable>and herb for its pungent flavor. Raw, it has a resinous, medicinal pungency, similar to the liquorice <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquorice> taste of anise <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anise>, fennel<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fennel>, or even tarragon <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarragon>, but stronger. Epazote's fragrance is strong, but difficult to describe. It has been compared to citrus, petroleum, savory, mint and putty. Although it is traditionally used with black beans<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_bean#Black_beans>for flavor and its carminative <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carminative> properties, it is also sometimes used to flavor other traditional Mexican dishes as well: it can be used to season quesadillas <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quesadillas>and sopes <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sope> (especially those containing huitlacoche <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huitlacoche>), soups, mole<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_(sauce)>de olla, tamales <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamales> with cheese and chile, chilaquiles <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilaquiles>, eggs and potatoes and enchiladas <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enchiladas>. Medicinal uses Epazote is used as a leaf vegetable<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf_vegetable>and herb for its pungent flavor and its claimed ability to prevent flatulence <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flatulence> caused by eating beans<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bean>but also in the treatment of amenorrhea <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenorrhea>[2]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epazote#cite_note-1>, dysmenorrhea <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysmenorrhea>, malaria<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaria>, chorea <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chorea_(disease)>, hysteria<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hysteria>, catarrh <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catarrh>, and asthma<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asthma> [3] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epazote#cite_note-2>. Oil of chenopodium is derived from this plant. It is antihelminthic<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antihelminthic>, that is, it kills intestinal worms, and was once listed for this use in the US Pharmacopoeia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Pharmacopoeia>. It is also cited as an antispasmodic<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antispasmodic>and abortifacient <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortifacient>. 2009/5/5 grassman <[email protected]> > > correct > > > -- With regards, J.M.Garg "We often ignore the beauty around us" Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiantreepix" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
