Geophila repens (L.) I.M. Johnst.
Family
Rubiaceae
Synonyms
Geophila reniformis D. Don, Geophila herbacea (Jacq.) O. Kuntze, Carinta repens (L.) L.B. Sm. & Downs.
Vernacular Names
| Malaysia | Pegaga ular, pegaga tikus, pantat berok (Peninsular) |
| Thailand | Mali din (Trat), uttaphit nam (Peninsular) |
Geographical Distributions
G. repens occurs throughout the tropics of Africa, Madagascar, South and Central America, Asia and Micronesia. It is found in the whole of South-East Asia.
Description
This is a small creeping perennial herb, with papillose stems, which is up to 50 cm long, and profusely rooting.
Leaves are arranged opposite, cordate-orbicular or cordate-reniform with a size of 2-4.5 cm x 1.5-4.5 cm, usually hairless, 7-9-veined and markedly pale below. The petiole is 1-9 cm long and densely papillose. The stipules are interpetiolar and transversely elliptical.
Inflorescence is a terminal few-flowered umbel (flowers often solitary). Peduncle is up to 4 cm long while papillose is hairy. Flowers are bisexual, (4-)5(-7)-merous. Sepal is deeply divided while the lobes are 3-4 mm long. Petal is tubular-infundibuliform, with 8-11 mm long tube while the lobes are 5-8 mm long, white and soon fall off. The stamens are inserted in petal tube while the filaments are minute. The ovary is inferior, 2-celled, crowned by a thick disk and 2-branched style.
Fruit is spherical or broadly ellipsoid drupe about 8 mm in diametre. It is red but sometimes orange when ripe. There are 2 nutlets, which are plano-convex.
Ecology / Cultivation
G. repens occurs in lowland forest, in not too dry localities, usually below 1000 m, but sometimes up to 1600 m altitude (e.g. in Java).
Line Drawing / Photograph
References
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Plant Resources of South-East Asia No.12(3): Medicinal and poisonous plants 3.
