Scientific name: Glinus oppositifolius (L.) A. DC.
Family: Molluginaceae
Synonym: Mollugo oppositifolia L., Mollugo spergula L.
Bengali/Vernacular name: Gema shak, Gima, Jima (Bengali); Titadima (Noakhali).
Tribal name:
Kainky (Chak), Pakchen (Lushai), Bacchain (Pangkhoa).
English name: Indian chickweed,
Bitter cumin.
Description of the plant: An annual prostrate creeping herb, stems slender, 30-40 cm long, numerous, dichotomously branched. Leaves opposite or in whorls of 4-6, often of different sizes, variable in shape, mostly lanceolate to elliptic-oblong, subsessile, attenuate at both ends, more or less hairless except when young; margin entire or obscurely toothed in the upper half. Flowers creamy-white, often with a green or brownish line down the petals, in 1-8-flowered axillary clusters. Fruits closely packed, reniform, reddish-brown, distinctly granulate.
Plant parts used: Whole plant.
Medicinal uses: Fresh juice extracted from the plant is taken thrice a day (5 ml amount each time) for seven days to treat dyspepsia.
Decoction is made with the plant is given twice a day for three days to treat malaria.
Pea-sized pills are made from the plant is taken thrice a day (one pill each time) until the abdominal pain is cured.
A fresh juice extracted from the plant is advised to take twice a day (5 ml amount each time) until the liver disorder is cured.
Distribution: Throughout the country in moist fallow and cultivated fields and walls.
Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….
