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Useful Tropical Plants

Oldenlandia herbacea

(L.) Roxb.

Rubiaceae


Hedyotis is a very problematic genus or group of genera. Neither the overall identity and limits of this lineage, nor the evolutionary patterns within it, are at all understood or delineated. Widely differing treatments have long been used in different regions and floras. The situation is far from resolution or even general consensus and so many authors treat the genus very broadly[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
]. In line with several recent (up to 2013) molecular and phylogenic studies, the Kew ‘World Checklist of Selected Plant Families’ has recognised a number of distinct genera and this is the treatment we are adopting here[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Hedyotis dichotoma (Roxb. ex Wight & Arn.) A.Rich.

Hedyotis diffusa Spreng.

Hedyotis herbacea L.

Hedyotis heynei R.Br. ex Wall.

Hedyotis linearis Steud.

Hedyotis micrantha Hochst. ex Hiern

Hedyotis stricta Sm.

Hedyotis trichopoda A.Rich.

Hedyotis triflora Wall.

Kohautia stricta (Sm.) DC.

Oldenlandia asperula DC.

Oldenlandia dichotoma Roxb. ex Wight & Arn.

Oldenlandia heynei (R.Br. ex Wall.) G.Don

Oldenlandia heynei Oliv.

Oldenlandia holstii K.Schum.

Oldenlandia stricta (Sm.) Kuntze

Common Name:

Oldenlandia herbacea
Close-up of the flowering stem
Photograph by: Vengolis
Creative Commons License
Oldenlandia herbacea Oldenlandia herbacea Oldenlandia herbacea Oldenlandia herbacea

General Information

Oldenlandia herbacea is an erect or ascending annual or perennial herb hat can grow up to 50cm long, occasionally to 60cm. The slender stems are usually much-branched[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and a dye.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

Tropical and subtropical Africa - widespread south of the Sahara; E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Andaman Islands

Habitat

Open places such as fields, grasslands and roadsides, often on stony or sandy soils; at elevations up to 1500 metres[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitAnnual/Perennial
Height0.40 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant is bitter, febrifuge and tonic[
240
Title
Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
Publication
 
Author
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
Publisher
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
Year
1986
ISBN
-
Description
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
]. A decoction is used in the treatment of mild cases of malarial fever of a low remittent type[
240
Title
Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
Publication
 
Author
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
Publisher
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
Year
1986
ISBN
-
Description
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
]. The powdered plant, combined with honey, is used to treat rheumatic fevers and swellings[
240
Title
Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
Publication
 
Author
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
Publisher
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
Year
1986
ISBN
-
Description
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
]. The plant is useful in the treatment of elephantiasis, fever, verminosis, inflammations, asthma, bronchitis and ulcers[
372
Title
Flowers of India
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.flowersofindia.net/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
].
A decoction of the plant is used to bathe feverish patients[
240
Title
Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
Publication
 
Author
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
Publisher
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
Year
1986
ISBN
-
Description
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
].
The plant is boiled in oil and this oil is then used in the treatment of elephantiasis and pains in the body[
240
Title
Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
Publication
 
Author
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
Publisher
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
Year
1986
ISBN
-
Description
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
].

The leaves are used as an expectorant in the treatment of asthma and consumption[
240
Title
Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
Publication
 
Author
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
Publisher
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
Year
1986
ISBN
-
Description
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
].

The plant has been reported to be used medicinally in Peninsular Malaysia, without specification[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Other Uses

A dye is oftained from the root bark. It is used to colour fabrics[
688
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 68
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University.
Year
1987
ISBN
0004-2625
Description
Various articles on plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-08. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Oldenlandia+herbacea>

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