Common Name:

General Information

Tadehagi triquetrum is an erect perennial plant with stems that become more or less woody and persist; it can grow up to 3 metres tall[].
The plant is often harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine - it is sold in local markets.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E, Asia - s. China, Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, Australia, Pacific

Habitat

Found on a variety of soils in evergreen or semi-deciduous forest, in the vicinity of watercourses, on bunds of rice fields, savannah and grasslands; at elevations from sea-level up to 1,500 metres, occasionally to 2,000 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants can be found in a large range of soils in the wild, ranging from sands to heavy clays[].
The plant can flower almost all year round[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria; these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

The leaves are used as a tea substitute[]. They contain around 7 - 8.5% tannins when dried[].

Medicinal

The leaves are commonly used to treat haemorrhoids, usually in the form of a decoction[, ]. An infusion of the leaves is used to treat stomach discomfort[, ].
The leaves are applied externally as a treatment for lumbago[].

Both the leaves and the seedpods are used as part of diuretic remedies to treat gravel in the kidneys and bladder[, ].

The roots are febrifuge[]. A decoction or infusion of the roots is used as a treatment for chronic coughs and tuberculosis, to treat kidney complaints[, ].
The root is eaten or used in baths as a treatment for gastro-intestinal and urinary problems ranging from an upset stomach to hepatitis[].
The roots are used to make a poultice for bruises[, ].

The whole plant, roots as well as tops, is used in decoction, as an infusion, simply eaten or used as a wash in baths, in order to heal a wide range of afflictions[]. These include gastro-intestinal and urinary problems ranging from an upset stomach to hepatitis; spasms in infants, haemorrhoids, abscesses and for expelling worms[, ]. A daily glass of a decoction is considered a beneficial treatment for chronic coughs and tuberculosis[]. A decoction of the whole plant is used for invigorating the spleen and promoting digestion[].

The plant (part not specified) is reported to contain up to 8% condensed tannins. Condensed tannins are complex polymers of catechins and flavonoids, which are often esterified with gallic acid. The ability of tannins to form insoluble complexes with proteins, and their astringent properties are the basis for their use in traditional medicine, which includes treatment of conditions such as bleeding gums, haemorrhoids and, to some extent, skin injuries[].
The high potassium (3%) and silicic acid (2.3%) content may account for the plant's mild diuretic effects[].
An ethanol and water extract of the aerial parts of the plant have shown antiviral activity and cytotoxic activity[]

Other Uses

The plant is used as an insecticide[].

Propagation

Seed -

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