Common Name: Frogfruit

General Information

Phyla nodiflora is a low-growing, herbaceous, perennial plant that creeps along the ground, forming roots as it spreads, and often forming large mats or colonies[].
The plant is gathered from the wild for local domestic medicinal use. It is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental plant and ground cover in tropical to warm temperate regions of the world[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Widely spread from the warmer regions of the temperate zone to the tropical zone all around the world

Habitat

Near the coast in Australia[]. A common weed in the warmer areas of China, where it grows along stream banks and in grassy places; at elevations from 300 - 2,300 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.20 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Phyla nodiflora succeeds in a wide range of habitats from the warmer regions of the temperate zone to the tropics.
Succeeds in any well-drained soil in a sunny position[]. Prefers a moderately fertile soil, but succeeds in soils of low fertility[]. Prefers ample moisture according to one report[], whilst another says that, once established, it is drought tolerant[]. When grown in shade the plant makes a lot of vegetative growth but does not flower well[].
The plant spreads rapidly by means of running stems and can carpet large areas, which can be a blessing or a pain depending on the circumstance![].
The plant can flower and produce fruit all year round[].

Edible Uses

Leaves[, ]. No more details are given.

The fresh leaves are used as a tea substitute[]. A grassy flavour, it is nothing special[].

Medicinal

The plant is anodyne, antibacterial, astringent, carminative, deobstruent, diuretic, emmenagogue, emollient, febrifuge, parasiticide and refrigerant[]. It is said to be useful in the treatment of blenorrhoea, lithiasis, ischuria, constipation and pain in the knees[]. It is used in the treatment of hookworm[]. An infusion is drunk as a post-partum tonic[]. The juice of the plant is cooling and is used to relieve minor gastric troubles, fevers, coughs and colds[, ]. The aroma of the inhaled plant is breathed in to treat coughs and colds[].
A poultice of the fresh plant is applied to ripen boils[]. A paste or poultice is also applied to swollen cervical glands, to erysipelas, burns, and to chronic indolent ulcers[].

The juice of the root is used in the treatment of gastric troubles[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A good ground cover for dry sunny banks[], this plant has been used as a grass substitute for lawns in tropical areas. It withstands walking and trampling well, though it would probably not tolerate heavy traffic[, , ]. It can be used to control water and wind erosion[].
Locally, the plant is an important nectar source for honeybees[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a tray in a nursery. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out when stems are 10cm long.
Division at any time of the year.

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