| Artemisia pallens | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Artemisia |
| Species: | A. pallens |
| Binomial name | |
| Artemisia pallens | |
Artemisia pallens is an aromatic herb, in genus of small herbs or shrubs,xerophytic in nature. Commonly known asdhavanam from theSanskrit name दमनक (damanaka), (Tamil:மரிக்கொழுந்து, தவணம்,Marathi:दवणा,Kannada:ದವನ). The flowers areracemosepanicles, bear numerous small yellow flower heads orcapitula, but the silvery white silky covering of down gives the foliage a grey or white appearance.
Dhavanam has alternatepinnasect leaves (leaf which is divided into opposite pairs of lobes cut almost to the midrib In narrow divisions) orpalmatisect leaves (the green tissue is divided into several segments not fully separated At the base).
It is commercially cultivated for its fragrant leaves and flowers. It has two distinct morphological types, one in which the plants are short in stature and flowering sets in early, and the other in which plants are tall and flowering sets in later. It grows from seeds and cuttings and reaches maturity in four months. The plant is woody in the lower part of the stem, but with yearly branches. It is mostly grown in the Indian states ofAndhra Pradesh,Karnataka,Maharashtra andTamil Nadu.[citation needed]
Artemisia pallens is a preferred food for the larvae of a number of butterfly species.
Davanone,davan ether,davana furan andlinalool are the major constituents of davana oil.Methyl cinnamate,ethyl cinnamate,bicyclogermacrene,2-hydroxyisodavanone,farnesol,geranyl acetate,sesquiterpene lactones, andgermacranolides are also found.[1] The amount of davanone and linalool decreased while those of (Z)− and (E)−methyl cinnamate, (E)−ethyl cinnamate, bicyclogermacrene, davana ether, 2-hydroxyisodavanone, and farnesol increased from flower heads emergence stage to the initiation of seed set stage. Five compounds, (Z)− and (E)−methyl cinnamates, (Z)− and (E)−ethyl cinnamates, and geranyl acetate, were identified for the first time in davana oil.[2]
The leaves and flowers yield an essential oil known as oil of Davana. Several species yieldessential oil and some are used asfodder, some of them are a source of theanthelmintic chemicalsantonin. Davana blossoms are offered toShiva, the God of Transformation, by the devotees, and decorate his altar throughout the day. Oral administration of high doses aqueous/methanolic extract from the aerial parts of the plants was observed to reduce blood glucose levels in glucose−fedhyperglycemic andalloxan-treated rabbits and rats.[3][4] Davana is rarely used in cooking, but in India it is sometimes used in herbal teas for flavor.[5]
Dauna leaves are found abundantly on the Wadi Ratnagiri Mountain, in the city ofKolhapur. The mountain is home to ShriJotiba. The plant is exclusively used as an offering to this deity at this temple.
Dhavana is also used in Rathothsavam of sri khadri Narasimha swami temple, kadiri. There people throw dhavanam on the Ratham, while moving through the maadaveedhulu.