Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
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| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant, Creeper |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Others - Plant Morphology | Hemigraphis sumatrensis may sometimes be misidentified as Prunella vulgaris, a medicinal herb commonly known as xia ku cao, to which it bears close resemblance. It is also not the same plant as H. alternata (Burm. F.) T. Anderson. Growth Form: H. sumatrensis is a recumbent herb that grows up to 30cm in height. Stem:Stem between nodes washed violet just above node, becoming light green at base of node above. Foliage: Leaves dark green and shiny above, the midrib on older leaves becomes purple at base. Below pale green, some leaves strongly mottled with violet, youngest leaves mostly violet below, the colour extending onto the green petiole as violet-coloured hairs.Flowers: Flowers are borne on inflorescences, bracts (= modified leaves) light green with long translucent (some purplish) hairs. Petals of the flowers form a tubular shape, about 1.7 x 1.7 cm in size, exterior white, minutely hairy, the interior white with purple pencilling. Etymology: Hemigraphisis Greek for “half-writing”, in reference to the brush-like hairs on plants of the genus, while the specific epithet, sumatrensis is likely to mean “from Sumatra”. |
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Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Flowers |
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Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
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| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Very Fast |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Purple |
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Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Purple, White |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 30681 |
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| Species ID | 4990 |
| 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. |
