Limnophila aromatica (Lamk) Merr.
Family
Scrophulariaceae
Synonyms
Gratiola aromatica (Lamk) Pers., Limnophila punctata Blume, Limnophila gratissima Blume.
Vernacular Names
| Malaysia | Beremi, kerak-kerak |
| Indonesia | Kehkehan (Sundanese), daun kardemom, selaseh ayer kecil (Ambonese) |
| Philippines | Angangi (Bontok) |
| Papua New Guinea | Poikehkeh (Wapi), ginibok (Keepaukee) |
| Thailand | Phak khayaeng (Central), phak phaa (Northern) |
| Vietnam | Rau ng[oom] |
Geographical Distributions
From India and Sri Lanka to Indo-China, southern China, Japan, Taiwan, throughout South-East Asia and northern Australia.
Description
The leaves are decussate or in whorls of 3, ovate-lance-shaped to lance-shaped with size of 10-55 mm x 3-15 mm. Their margins are crenate to serrate-dentate, hairless to densely and minutely glandular. The veins are pinnately arranged and sessile.
The flowers are solitary and axillary or a few to many-flowered, terminal or axillary raceme, up to 15 cm long. The pedicel is 5-20 mm long. The two bracteoles are 1.5-2 mm long. The sepal is 4.5-7 mm long, hairy, striate at maturity. Its petal is 10.5-13.5 mm long, pale pink, outside is finely glandular while the inside is densely villous. The posterior lobe is notched at the extremity. The posterior stamens are 2.5 mm long and with long weak hairs while the anterior stamens are 4 mm long and hairless.
The 5-6 mm long brown capsule is broadly ellipsoid and compressed.
Ecology / Cultivation
L. aromatica grows in shallow ponds or marshy localities, from sea-level up to 1000 m altitude.
Line Drawing / Photograph
References
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Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 12(2). 1998, Unesco.
