Tropical Chickweed

Description:

Tropical Chickweed is a prostrate herb with dichotomous branching. Leaves are very broadly ovate, almost round, with heart-shaped base, carried on stalks up to 1 cm. Leaves are hairless, 1-3.5 x 0.6-3 cm, 3-7-nerved at base. Tiny flowers are borne in cymes at branch ends or in leaf axils, often loose on long slender stalks and with slender branches. Sepals are narrowly lanceshaped, green with white margin. Petals are white, about 3 mm, very deeply divided into two. Tropical Chickweed is native to Africa, America, naturalised in India. Medicinal uses: Warning: Unverified information The pounded leaf is applied to snake bites in China. The plant is appetizer, depurative, emollient, febrifuge, laxative and stimulant. The juice of the plant is used. Tropical Chickweed is widely used in traditional African medicine for the treatment of diverse ailments including painful and febrile conditions.