Melochia corchorifolia L.Family: Malvaceae
Synonyms: Geruma subtriloba Blanco, Hibiscus donii Walp., Hibiscus endlicheri Walp., Lochemia corchorifolia Arn., Melochia affinis Wall., Melochia burmanni Zoll. & Moritzi, Melochia concatenata L., Melochia erecta Burm. f., Melochia longibracteolata Arènes, Melochia pauciflora Wall., Melochia supina L., Melochia truncata Willd., Mougeotia corchorifolia (L.) Kunth, Polychlaena ramosa G. Don, Polychlaena simplex G. Don, Riedlea capitata Bojer, Riedlea concatenata (L.) DC., Riedlea corchorifolia (L.) DC., Riedlea radiata Blume, Riedlea supina (L.) DC., Riedlea truncata (Willd.) DC., Sida cuneifolia Roxb., Visenia concatenata (L.) Spreng., Visenia corchorifolia (L.) Spreng., Visenia supina (L.) Spreng.- Common name: Chocolate Weed, Wire bush, Redweed
- Bengali: Bon-pat, Tikiokra
- Chinese: 野路蔡, 马松子
- Gambia: tumarraturo
- Hindi: Tikiokra, Bilpat, चित्रबीज chitrabee
- Indonesia: gendiran, jaring, orang-aring
- Japan: noji-aoi
- Kannada: Bettadatutti mara
- lemak ketam, limah ketam, pulut-pulut
- Malayalam: Ketam, ചെറു ഊരം
- Marathi: लहान मेथुरी Lahan methuri
- Oriya: Dasokerotan
- Philippines: bankalanan, kalingan
- Senegal: ghud a mbèl, pag hu gor, ntogoyo, tias a mbèl
- Sierra Leone: ndopa-yenge, ngingili, suri
- Sri Lanka: gal kura
- Tamil: பிண்ணாக்குக்கீரை Punnakkukkirai
- Tanzania: pombo
- Telugu: Ganugapindikura
- Thailand: khaang paak put, sa aeng bai mon, seng lek
- Vietanamese: Trứng cua lá bố
Description: Erect branched herbs. Young stem, petioles, bracts and calyx lobes stellate hairy mixed with simple hairs. Leaves varying in size and shape, 2 - 5 x 1 - 2.5 cm, ovate- oblong, cordate or attenuate at base, margin serrate, acute at apex, sparsely hairy on nerves on both sides; petioles to 1 cm long. Flowers in terminal, capitate cymes. Bracts 2-3 mm long, linear-lanceolate, ciliate on margins. Calyx 5-lobed, campanulate, 2-3 mm long; lobes lanceolate, ciliate, Corolla pink, 5, 2-4 mm, obovate, obtuse or retuse at apex. Stamens 5, filaments united at base. Ovary c. 1 mm long, ovoid, 5-celled; ovules 2 in each cells; styles 5. Capsule 3-4 mm, sub - globose, 5- valved. Seeds angular or plano-convex, dark brown or greyish.
Used in Sidha/Siddha. Root powder given with water in snakebite. A decoction of leaves and roots given in cases of dysentery; leaves and roots used for poulticing in cases of smallpox. Leaves for swellings and sores of the abdomen; stem and leaves, boiled in oil, applied as a relief from the bites of water snakes. Plant decoction a remedy against snakebites. Sap applied as an antidote to wounds caused by arrows poisoned with Antiaris toxicaria. [CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants]
Leaf and root—antidysenteric. Leaf—applied as poultice for swellings of abdomen and sores. [Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary]
Leaf and root—antidysenteric. Leaf—applied as poultice for swellings of abdomen and sores. [Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary]
