Aeschynomene aspera is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is also known by the names Sola, Sola Pith Plant, Pith Plant, Laugauni or Netti (Tamil) .^[1] Pith of low density from this plant is used to make hats known as pith helmets or sola topis.

It is native to Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.

It is an aquatic plant and is considered a minor weed of rice paddies across its range.^[2]

References

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