Snake-Needle Grass

Oldenlandia diffusa

Physical Characteristics

Oldenlandia diffusa is a ANNUAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in flower from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea and Formosa.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Alterative Anodyne Antibacterial Antiinflammatory Antitumor Cardiotonic Depurative Diuretic Febrifuge Sedative Urinary Snake-needle grass is a pleasant-tasting cooling, alterative herb that lowers fever, reduces inflammation, relieves pain and is diuretic and antibacterial[238]. It acts mainly on the liver and also stimulates the immune system[238]. The whole plant is alterative, anodyne, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, cardiotonic, depurative, diuretic, febrifuge and sedative[147, 176, 238]. The plant is harvested in the summer and dried for later use[238]. It is taken internally in the treatment of fevers, coughs, asthma, jaundice, impure blood, urinary tract infections, acute appendicitis, biliousness and cancers of the digestive tract[176, 238, 240]. Externally, it is used in the treatment of snake bites, boils, abscesses and severe bruising[176, 238].

Known Hazards

None known