Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
Biogeography
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
|---|
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a creeping plant with short red stems, growing up to 30 cm tall and spreads up to 60 cm wide. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its leaves are round to heart-shaped, measuring 5 - 20 cm long and 4 - 12 cm wide, shiny, covered with fine hairs, dark green in colour. |
| Flowers | Inflorescence, head-like, compact, short stalk, surrounded by 4 involucral bracts. |
| Habitat | Commonly grow on hillside and damp forest floor areas. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Food (Herb or Spice) Medicinal: The leaves are pounded and the paste is applied onto heartburn area. It was said that the decoction of leaves is given to children to treat fever or malaria. In the Malay community, the paste of leaves and roots are applied onto the newborn child's abdomen for strength. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Small Gardens |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Cordate) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Purple, Pink |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1037 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2330 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |