Anisomeles indica

Content

Description

Herbaceous or shrubby, 0.5-2 m. Leaves thin- to thick-membranaceous, ovate to broadly ovate, 4.5-6 by 3-3.5 cm, acute, crenate-serrate, base rounded or truncate, hirsute or woolly on both surfaces, sub-cordate, less often shortly cuneate, entire, sometimes almost pinnatifid; Flowers usually numerous (over 20), in a dense verticillaster, the whorls distant below, approximate above in a dense spicate inflorescence, rarely very few-flowered with solitary flowers in the leaf-axils.

Distribution

Asia-Temperate: Taiwan (Taiwan present), Asia-Tropical: India present, Bismarck Arch present, Fiji Is present, Japan present, Ryu Kyu Is present

India, China, Japan, Ryu Kyu Is., Taiwan, throughout Malesia, Bismarck Arch., and Fiji Is.

Uses

According to RIDLEY (l.c.) this is an excellent plant for hive bees. HEYNE (1927) mentions that in Java a decoction of the leaves is internally used for gravel, and in the Philippines it is said to be antirheumatic and stomachic, and good for gastric catarrh and intermittent fever (QUISUMBING, l.c.). The leaves would contain a volatile oil and a bitter alkaloid. In Malaya the plant is commonly used in cakes of sago (). From Sumba reported to be a fetid herb with aromatic-scented flowers.

Notes

The flower colour varies considerably.

Citation

BLANCO 1878 – In: Fl. Filip., ed. 3: 247

Hook.f. 1885 – In: Fl. Br. Ind.: 672

BLANCO 1878 – In: Fl. Filip., ed. 3: 247

PRAIN 1907 – In: J. As. Soc. Beng.: 715

PARHAM 1964: Pl. Fiji: 254

cf. MERR. 1918: Sp. Blanc.: 336

O.K. 1951: QUIS.Medic. Pl. Philip.: 812

VIDAL 1885: Phan. Cuming. Philip.: 136

Ridl. 1923 – In: Fl. Mal. Pen.: 649

BLANCO 1845: Fl. Filip., ed. 2: 330

O.K. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 412

MUKERJEE 1940 – In: Rec. Bot. Surv. India: 152

BURM. f. 1768: Fl. Ind.: 126

DECNE 1834 – In: Nouv. Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris: 396

Koord. 1912 – In: Exk. Fl. Java: 148

Merr. 1912: Fl. Manila: 411

Miq. 1859 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 976

BACK. 1931: Onkr. Suiker.: 560

STEEN. 1948 – In: Bull. Jard. Bot. Btzg: 389

BACK. & BAKH.F. 1965 – In: Fl. Java: 624

O.K. 1918: Sp. Blanc.: 336

F.-VILL. 1880: Nov. App.: 665

[non (L.) R.BR.] HASSK. 1848: Pl. Jav. Rar.: 485

KENG 1969: p. 34. – In: Gard. Bull. Sing.: f. 5

R.BR 1848 – In: DC., Prod. 12: 455

THUNB. 1825: Fl. Java: 15

R.BR 1886: Rev. Pl. Vasc. Filip.: 214

Miq. 1859 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 975

BTH. 1835: Lab. Gen. Sp.: 702