(Acanthaceae) Asystasia chelonoides Nees

Local name(s): ໜວດ​ ແມວ​ ປ່າ, ​ໝາກ​ ເພັດ​ ນ້ຳ (nuat meo pa, mak phet nam)

Medicinal use(s): infections, kidney stones 

Part(s) used: whole plant

Field Characters: Shrub, approximately 1m in height. Stem with protuberances. Leaves solitary, alternate, margins slightly crenate. Flower funnel-shaped, white and lavender.

Locality: Sekong Province; Thateng District; Area around MBP Pa Dohng Nyung; Ban Kohk Pong Nieua.

Habitat: Community medicinal plant garden.

Alt.: 610 m asl 

Collector(s): B. Elkington, M. Xayvue, S. Setthavanxay

Collection number(s): BGE 304

Collection Date: November 21, 2019

Additional information:  

Voucher specimen is in deposit at the Field Museum (F) Herbarium, Chicago, USA under accession no. 2330353.

Synonyms, images, taxonomic description: 

Plants of the World onlineGBIF | Global Biodiversity Information FacilityFlora of China

Useful references:

Francis Xavier T, Kannan M, Auxilia A. Observation on the traditional phytotherapy among the Malayali tribes in Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu, South India. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015 May 13;165:198-214. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.02.045. Epub 2015 Mar 2. PubMed PMID: 25743441.