Alternanthera philoxeroides

Hollow grass

HerbaAlternantherae

Alligator Alternanthera herb

[alias] Alternanthera philoxeroides, Alternanthera philoxeroides, amaranth.

[source] the aerial part of Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.

[plant morphology] perennial perennial herb. The base of stem is prostrate, the upper part is extended, hollow, branched, and the node axils are sparsely villous. Leaves opposite, oblong obovate or obovate lanceolate, apex obtuse, awn pointed, base gradually narrowed, surface with adnexal hairs, edge with eyelashes. The inflorescence is solitary in the leaf axil, the total pedicel is 1-6cm long; the bracts and bracteoles are dry membranous, persistent; perianth segments are 5, white, unequal in size; stamens are 5, the base of which forms a cup, the top of staminodes splits into 3-4 narrow strips; ovary obovate, stigma capitate. The flowering period is from May to November.

Born in ponds and ditches. It is native to Brazil, and introduced to Beijing, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, etc.

[harvest] harvest from October to November, remove impurities, wash, dry or fresh.

[chemical constituents] it contains flavonoid glycosides, triterpenoid saponins, organic acids, phenolic constituents, coumarin, sugar, fat, protein, 6-methoxyluteolin, 7-a-l-rhamnosyl-6-methoxyluteolin and patuletin.

Cold in nature and bitter in taste.

[indications] heat clearing, blood cooling and detoxification. It is used in the early stage of epidemic encephalitis B, early stage of epidemic hemorrhagic fever and measles.

Chinese PinYin : Kong Xin Lian Zi Cao