Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (L.) Vahl.
Blue Snakeweed / Kambang pagi (Bel.); Selasih hutan/Selasih dandi/Usak pukul lima (Bru.)
Description
Traditional Medicinal Uses
Ecology
Propagation
Distribution
Precaution
Perennial or annual woody shrub that can rise up to 1 m tall. Leaves are simple, oppositely arranged, glabrous or finely hairy, glossy and strongly nerved. Leaf blade is elliptic to oblong-ovate, acute at apex, slightly attenuate at base with toothed margin and pinnate venation. Stems are sparsely hairy or subglabrous, erect, circular, often purplish, sometimes woody on the base with swollen nodes. Inflorescence a cylindrical terminal spike. Flowers are small, purple to pale blue with white mouth. Fruit an oblong nut. Seeds are brown
The local healers used this plant to relieve eye infections and blurry eyes. Young roots and tender young stem are pinched into a clean towel, filtered and the mucilages are dropped into the eyes. In other countries, root decoction is drunk for gonorrhea and
It can grown best under sunlight to partial shade.
Seeds.
Native to tropical America, but introduced and naturalized throughout the tropics and subtropics.
None