Botany
· A mucilaginous, slender, creeping or ascending branched herb, usually pubescent. Stems root at the nodes.
· Leaves: green, oblong-lanceolate, 4 to 7 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, pointed at both ends.
· Flowers: inflorescence is axillary and peduncled, enclosed in a complicate leaf-like spathe. The cymes are usually 2 in each spathe. The flowers are blue, with long stalks in anthesis, fascicled, several in each spathe-like bracts, with petals 3 to 4 mm long.

Distribution
Common throughout the Philippines in open grasslands and waste places in settled areas at low and medium altitudes.

Parts utilized
Entire plant.

Characteristics and pharmacologic effects
Tasteless, cooling natured.
Entire plant in decoction is used as an emollient, eye-wash and is also employed to combat painful discharge of urine, diuretic.
Good blood coagulant, antifebrile and antidote, tonic for the heart.

Folkloric uses
· For all kinds of fever symptoms due to infection: get drug (dried preparation 9 to 15 gms, 30 to 60 gms fresh material) boil to a concentrated decoction and drink.
· Mumps: get fresh plant, crush and squeeze out the juice, then drink.
· For poisonous snake bites: get fresh plant, crush, squeeze out the juice, then drink. This drug must be accompanied by an antidote preparation applied on the bite.
· Difficult urination
· Acute gastroenteritis
· Laryngopharyngitis, tonsillitis, colds
· External wound bleeding
· Erysipelas
· Dosage: for 4 to 8, use 30 to 60 gms dried material or 90 to 120 gms fresh material in decoction; pounded fresh material may be applied externally as a poultice.

Availability
Wild-crafted.