Back

Geophila herbacea (Jacq.) K.Schum.

Family Name:	Rubiaceae
Synonyms:	Geophila repens auct. non (L.) I.M.Johnst., Geophila reniformis Cham. & Schltdl. var. asiatica, Geophila repens (Cham. & Schltdl.) Fosberg var. asiatica, Rondeletia repens L.
Common Name:	Snake Pennywort, Pegaga tekukur, Pegaga ular, 爱地草

Semi Shade

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Ornamental Flowers

Ornamental Leaves

Shallow Media

Creeper

Herbaceous Plant

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Herbaceous Plant, Creeper
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Irregular

Native Distribution	China, south and Southeast Asia (including Singapore), and Polynesia
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Coastal Forest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Endangered (EN))

Growth Form	It is a creeping herb, with upright branches up to about 0.08 m tall.
Foliage	Its opposite, stalked leaves have leaf blades that are heart-shaped, and 1.3–3.8 cm long and wide.
Flowers	Its white flowers are trumpet-shaped, up to 1.5 cm long, and found 1–3 together at the ends of slender stalks.

Fruit	Its pea-sized fruits are bright orange-red berries with narrow sepals on its tip.
Habitat	It grows in open, or shaded, damp places in the understorey of forests, secondary growth, and vegetation near the sea. It occurs locally in Kampong Glam, Makeway Avenue, and Fort Canning Park.
Associated Fauna	Its flowers are insect-pollinated.
Taxonomy	Previous name of Geophila repens auct. non (L.) I.M.Johnst. was misused in Asia. Current name of Geophila herbacea (Jacq.) K.Schum. is applicable to all wild plants in Asia and cultivated plants of Asian origin.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed, stem cuttings, and has been cloned by micropropagation technique.
Etymology	Greek ge, the Earth; Greek phileo, to love, alluding to the creeping habit of the plant; Latin repens, creeping, referring to the plant’s growth form.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Medicinal: The plant is applied to sore legs as a poultice. Diarrhoea can also be by taking the plant.

Landscaping	This creeper has attractive, bright orange red berries. Its habit and shape of its leaf blade also vaguely resemble the pennywort (Centella asiatica), hence its common name. It may make a good ground cover for shaded to semi-shaded sites that are sufficiently moist and cool.
Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Fruits
Landscape Uses	General, Parks & Gardens, Groundcover

Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Biotic (Fauna)

Light Preference	Semi-Shade
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Rootzone Tolerance	Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Shallow Media

Propagation Method

Seed, Stem Cutting, Tissue Culture

Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Opposite
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Obtuse, Rounded
Foliar Base	Cordate
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot)

Flower Symmetry

Radial

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Red
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Fleshy Fruit , Non-Accessory Fruit

Images

Master ID	735
Species ID	2030
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.

Species record last updated on: 24 February 2022.