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Botany
· An erect, branched,
monoecious perennial shrub, 1 to 2 m high, single cylindrical
stemwith hairy branches and petioles.
· Leaves: long-petioled, alternate, broadly ovate, 10
to 18.5 cm long, 6 to 14 cm wide, with tapering pointed tip,
coarsely toothed margins, the upper surface green, roughened
with few scattered hairs, the lower surface white, except the
nerves, and densely covered with appressed, matted, white hairs.
· Flowers: small, clustered, the clusters arranged in
axillary panicles shorter than the petioles. Unisexual, apetalous.
Staminate (male) flowers with 4 calyx lobes which are green in
color. Stamens 4.
Distribution
Naturalized and cultivated
in the Philippines, in places with uniform rainfall all year
round.
Propagation through cuttings from the rhizomes and by seeds.
Parts
utilized:
Roots, stems and leaves
Properties
Mildly bitter and sweet tasting,
cooling.
Antipyretic, diuretic.
Folkloric
uses
· Regulates placental
movement, hemostatic; for cold fever, urinary tract infection,
nephritic edema, edema among pregnant women, abnormal placental
movements, and excessive menstrual flow: 15.6 to 31 gms dried
material in decoction.
· Pounded fresh leaves may be used as poultice for swelling
pains caused by sprains.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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