Hang Lin | หางลิ่น | Phyllodium pulchellum
Family: Fabaceae - Genus: Phyllodium
The Showy Desmodium can be found around the restaurant area of Eco-Logic Thailand.
Showy Desmodium is a perennial plant with slender, branching stems that become more or less woody. It can grow 50 - 250 centimeter tall. The leaves are 3-foliate. Leaflets are finely hairy beneath, the middle one being oblong, 8-13 centimeter long and more than twice as large as the lateral ones.
Flowers are white and about 6 mm long, hidden by large circular green bracts which are 1-1.5 centimeter in diameter. The long flowering part is 8-25 centimeter long, and occurs in leaf axils and at the end of branches. Pods are oblong, hairy and usually of 2, rarely 1- or 3 jointed.
The plant is harvested for local use as a medicine.
The showy Desmodium blooms in September-October
THE PLANT
Showy Desmodium is a perennial plant with slender, branching stems that become more or less woody. It can grow 50 - 250 centimeter tall. The leaves are 3-foliate.
Flowers are white and about 6 mm long, hidden by large circular green bracts which are 1-1.5 centimeter in diameter.
THE LEAVES
The leaves are 3-foliate. Leaflets are finely hairy beneath, the middle one being oblong, 8-13 centimeter long and more than twice as large as the lateral ones.
THE FLOWERS
Flowers are white and about 6 mm long, hidden by large circular green bracts which are 1-1.5 centimeter in diameter. The long flowering part is 8-25 centimeter long, and occurs in leaf axils and at the end of branches.
CULINARY USES
Edible Uses
None known. The plant is harvested for local use as a medicine.
TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USE
NOTE: please take advice from a doctor if you are planning to use herbal medicine.
Showy Desmodium is used in folk medicine in cold and fever, malaria, excessive menstrual flow. Leaves are applied to ulcers. Decoction of bark is used for diarrhea, eye afflictions. Decoction of flowers is used for bile and liver afflictions.
The roots and leaves are used for reducing fever and as an antiphlogistic and diuretic.
A decoction of the roots is used as a post partum protective medicine for mothers; to relieve liver dysfunctions; and also in the treatment of some psychotic symptoms, including delirium, fibrillation and weight loss, believed to be caused by black magic.
The leaves are applied externally to treat pockmarks and ulcers.
The whole plant is used in a post-partum treatment; to treat rheumatic fevers; to cure toothache; to help dissolve internal blood clots; and is also considered a remedy for convulsions in infants.
A decoction of the bark is considered an antidote to poisoning, and is also used in the treatment of haemorrhages, diarrhoea, and to cure eye diseases.
The flowers are used in the treatment of biliousness
INTO THE WILD: a down to earth experience
For guests and visitors to Paksong we organize weekly tours "The Edible Forest" and Foraging weekends: Into the Wild. We work with local guides to take you in the jungle of Paksong. After foraging, we will cook a meal with the ingredients, using bamboo together with you!
Come and join and learn about the abundance of food that nature gives us!
INTO THE WILD!
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