Scientific name: Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth
Family: Piperaceae.
Synonym: Peperomia concinna (Haw.) A. Dietr., Piper pellucidum L.
Bengali/Vernacular name: Luchi pata, Joldata, Peperomia, Pithapata, Shamoli ghas.
Tribal name: Drulturnah (Bawm), Samol-h-pang (Garo), Tuiching (Murang), Aree-u-apang (Rakhaing), Chasherrow (Tripura).
English name: Shiny bush, Slate pencil plant, Pepper elder, Rat’s ear, Silverbush.
Description of the plant: A branched, annual herb, shallow rooted, up to 40 cm high, with very succulent stems; stems are round, often about 5 mm thick. Leaves are alternate, heart-shaped and turgid, as transparent and smooth as candle wax. Spikes are green, erect, very slender, 1-6 cm long. Tiny dot-like flowers scattered along solitary and leaf-opposed stalk (spike); naked; maturing gradually from the base to the tip; turning brown when ripe. Fruit drupe-like, minute, subglobose.
Plant parts used: Leaf, stem.
Ethnomedicinal uses: The juice is extracted from the plant is used for massaging on the whole body once a day for two days to treat allergy.
Decoction of leaves is advised to take for urinary tract infection.
Fresh juice is extracted from the laeves and stems of the plant are taken twice a day (10 ml amount each time) until the boils and headache is cured.
Decoction prepared from the leaves and stems of the plant are used for gout and arthritis.
A paste is made with the leaves and stems of the plant are applied on the infected skin twice a day until the eczema is cured.
Decoction prepared from the plant is advised to give for the treatment of fever, stomach disorder, rheumatic pain, and impotence.
Fresh juice extracted from the leaves and stems of the plant is used for eye inflammation.
Distribution: The species is found all over the country.
Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….
