Family: Rubiaceae (Coffee family)
Genus: Oldenlandia
Botanical name: Oldenlandia herbacea
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
Sanskrit: Chhayaparpatika
Hindi: Paper bhed
English: Slender Oldenlandia
Malayalam: Nonnanampullu, scanganam-pulli
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Slender Oldenlandia is an erect much branched hairless bushy herb. Branches are slender, wiry, widely diverging. Oppositely arranged stalkless leaves are linear- lanceshaped, usually with curled-back margins. Lower leaves are broader than the upper ones. Flowers are tiny and appear singly or in groups of few, on slender long stalks, in leaf axils. Flower tube is slender with 4 spreading petals. Flowers are up to 5 mm in diameter, white or mauve. Fruits are round capsules.
The Whole plant of Slender Oldenlandia is used for elephantiasis, fever, burning sensation, verminosis, inflammations, asthma, bronchitis, pain and ulcers.