Oldenlandia corymbosa L.

Taxonomy: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Gentianales > Rubiaceae > Oldenlandia > O. corymbosa

Description: Annual herb, sparsely to very densely branched near the base. Stems: prostrate to erect, ridged, glabrous or scabridulous or pubescent on the ribs. Leaf-blades linear to narrowly elliptic, acute and apiculate at the apex, narrowed to the base, glabrous to sparsely scabridulous above and on margins and also beneath, particularly on the main nerve; petioles not developed; stipule-sheath, produced at the middle with unequal fimbriae. Flowers not heterostylous, variously arranged, either 1–several single flowers in the axils or in 2–5(–6)-flowered pedunculate umbel-like inflorescences, both kinds present on one branch or even at one node, the peduncles and pedicels mostly long and slender but rarely the flowers are fasciculate; peduncles long; pedicels long. Calyx-tube ellipsoid, lobes triangular, setulose on the margins. Corolla: white or tinged blue, pink or purple or with 2 pink stripes on each lobe; tube 0.6–1 mm. long; lobes ovate to oblong. Style 0.5–1.5 mm. long. Capsule ovoid, the beak scarcely raised. Seeds pale brown, ellipsoid or very obtusely depressed conic, reticulate.

Flowering and fruiting: August - October

Uses: Edible Uses: Leaves - cooked. The tender young leaves and stems are cooked with other vegetables such as Amaranthus and Cucurbita species, and act as a softener for the other cooked vegetables. They are a rich source of vitamin C. The leaves are pounded, soaked in warm water and the liquid drunk to treat stomach disorders. They are used externally as a poultice to treat sores and sore eyes. The entire plant is used in decoction as an anthelmintic, anti-rheumatic, depurative, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, febrifuge, pectoral and stomachic. In India, it is a common ingredient in mixtures used internally to treat remittent fevers, gastric irritation, nervous depression and as a tonic.

Cultivation: Wild

References

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org

https://indiabiodiversity.org