Malayan Eyebright
Torenia polygonoides Benth.
Linderniaceae
Location in our garden
Overview
A weed plant whose original distribution includes Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Oceania. Because of the unique and small flower shape, sometimes this plant is planted by the community as an ornamental plant. In addition, this weed also turns out to have value as a medicinal plant. This plant is used by the people of Kalimantan as an ingredient in traditional medicine to heal wounds.
Vernacular Names
No information found. Need further search.
Agroecology
Commonly found growing on trails, shady and wet places in mountain valleys. This plant is suitable for planting in sandy soil, loam, high organic matter content with moist soil conditions, and well drained. Grows well in partial shade or sunny with full sun.
Morphology
- Stems - have slender branches.
- Leaves - arranged opposite, oval-elliptical or ovate-rhomboid, measuring 1 - 2 cm, glabrous, margins crenate to jagged, green.
- Flowers - has a crown with a 3 lobed lower lip, white and yellow in the middle while the upper lip is flat and red, the apical lobe is blunt. Petals oblong to suborbicular, with 3 broad wings, wingspan up to 4 mm, apex with 3 small sharp teeth. The anthers are yellow. The inflorescence is composed of 1 - 4 flowers.
- Fruits - capsule, oval-ovoid.
Cultivation
Propagated by stem cuttings.
Chemical Constituents
No information found. Need further search.
Benefits
- Treat wounds, ulcers, urinary tract problems and joint pain.
Simplisia
Not yet documented.
Plant Parts Used
Traditional Recipes
1. 1. Minyak karo
- Siapkan bahan : Pirawas 50 g, rumput sisik naga 50 g, lompat pitu 40 g, dan 100 jenis bahan tanaman lainnya, minyak kelapa/minyak kelapa sawit kemasan 6 L, garam 1 sdm.
- Cuci bersih semua bahan, kemudian bagi bahan menjadi beberapa kelompok (bahan daun, bahan kering, dan kelompok jeruk-jerukan).
- Bahan berbentuk daun, bawang, jahe, jeruk semua diiris tapi tetap terpisah.
- Masukan bahan dan aduk sampai mendidih dan harum, terakhir masukkan garam.
- Setelah itu minyak yang sudah masak bisa diangkat dan saring.
Reference Sources
- Royal Botanic Gardens. 2021. Torenia polygonoides Benth.http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:810460-1. 26-06-22.
- Flora Fauna Web. 2021. Legazpia polygonoides Benth. (Yamazaki) https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/2/5/2518. 26-06-22.
- eFlora. Flora of China: Legazpia polygonoides (Bentham) T. Yamazaki. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200020691. 26-06-22.
- UFOREST.ORG. 2021. Legazpia polygonoides (Benth.) T. Yamaz. https://uforest.org/Species/L/Legazpia_polygonoides.php. 26-06-22.