Know the herbs

Scientific name

Eclipta prostrata (L.) L.

Family

Asteraceae

Local name

Kembang itik (kedah), urang-aring, urang-uring, orang-aring, aring-aring, ari-aring, aghing-aghing, keremak jantan, keremak hutan, rumput migus, rumput nigus, rumput kunang putih, rumput biu, daun dakelin, dawah.

Description

Eclipta prostrata (L.) is a creeping herb. The stem is cylindrical to quadrangular, greenish-reddish in colour, often rooting at the nodes, with a strigose surface. The leaves are arranged oppositely, elliptic-lanceolate in shape, with margins nearly serrate to almost entire, the apex nearly acute, and the base cuneate to decurrent. Both leaf surfaces bear strigose indumentum, and the leaves are three-nerved from the base.The inflorescences are axillary, bearing 1–2 small heads with short peduncles. The involucre is bell-shaped, with ovate, green phyllaries. The capitula contain numerous white ray florets that are oblong-linear in shape. The disc florets are whitish-yellow, tubular, and four-lobed. The fruit is an achene with a smooth surface, oblongoid-obovoid in shape, with marginal lines, and brown in colour.

Usage

This plant is used to relieve body heat.

Malaysia Herbal Monograph (source: Globinmed)