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Elephantopus tomentosus Linn.
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English Name |
Whiteflower Earthgallgrass, Primula-leaved Violet |
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Latin name |
Elephantopus tomentosus Linn. |
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Family & Genus |
Asteraceae, Elephantopus |
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Description |
Perennial herb, 0.8-1 meter high, or higher. Obliquely ascending or recumbent rhizome thick and strong, with fibrous roots. Stem upright, branch plentiful, with ridges, covered with stretching white long soft hairs, with glandular dots. Leaf alternate; leaf in most upper parts extremely small, all with tined sawtooth, sparse nearly entire, upper surface wrinkled and with warts, covered with sparse or comparatively dense short soft hairs, lower surface densely covered with long soft hairs and glandular dots; leaf in upper part elliptic or long circular elliptic, 7-8cm long, 1.5-2cm wide, nearly sessile or with short stipe; leaf in lower part long circular invert ovate, 8-20cm long, 3-5cm wide, anteriorly pointed, basal part gradually narrows to form a stipe with wings, slightly embracing stem; leaf in most lower parts usually arranged rosulately. Capitulum, 12-20, aggregated into a globular compound capitulum on the apex of stem branch, basal part with 3 heart shaped lobate bracts, with thin and long peduncle, arranged in sparse corymbose; periclinium long circular, 8-10mm long, 1.5-2mm wide; periclinium mostly green, however, sometimes anteriorly purplish red, 4 respectively in inner and outer layers, outer layer lanceolate long circular, 4-5mm long, anteriorly pointed, with 1 vein, hairless, inner layer elliptic long circular, 7-8mm long, front end suddenly pointed, with 3 veins, covered with sparse adhering short hairs and glandular dots; flowers 4, funnel shaped, corolla white, tube thin, 5-6mm long, lobe lanceolate, hairless. Achene, long circular linear, with 10 ribs, about 3mm long, covered with short soft hairs; pappus stained white, with 5 rigid hairs, about 4mm long, basal part suddenly widened to a triangle. Flowering August to May of the following year. |
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Distribution |
Growing in open hill-slopes, roadsides or in thickets. Distributed in Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Hainan and other coastal areas. Produced in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Jiangxi and etc. |
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Part Used |
Medical part: whole plant. Chinese name: Kudidan. |
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Harvest & Processing |
Harvested in late summer, washed, used fresh or sundried. |
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Chemistry |
Contains dihydroelephantopin and tomenphantopin A, B, etc. |
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Pharmacology |
Anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumors. |
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Properties & Actions |
Bitter, pungent, cold.Clearing heat and cooling blood, detoxicating and disinhibiting dampness. |
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Indications & Usage |
Common cold, whooping cough, tonsillitis, laryngopharyngitis, conjunctivitis, jaundice, edema due to nephritis, irregular menstrual periods, leucorrhea, sores and furuncles, eczema, bites by snakes and insects.Oral administration: decocting, 6-15g, fresh products 30-60g; or smashed to extract juice. External application: appropriate amount, smashed for application; or decocted for fumigating and washing. |
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Examples |
1. Jaundice: scabrous elephantfoot herb with root and leaves, wash clean, 120-180g. Stew with pork and eat, take consecutively for 4-5 days.
2. Malaria: whole herb of earthgallgrass 15g, radermachera igneum bark 30g. Decoct in water and swallow. |
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