Blue Snakeweed (假马鞭)

Stachytarpheta indica (L.) Vahl

It has many common names including blue porterweed, blue snake weed, bastard vervain, Brazilian tea, Jamaica vervain, and light-blue snakeweed, Indian Snakeweed, Blue Snakeweed, Nettle-leaved Vervain, 假马鞭, 长穗木.

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Shrub (Woody)
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial
Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Rounded
Maximum Height	1 m

Light Preference	Semi-Shade, Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate
Propagation Method	Seed, Stem Cutting
Propagation Method Remarks	Propagate by seed or softwood cuttings. To collect seeds for propagation, allow the seedhead to dry on the plant before harvesting the seeds.

• In Nigeria, Snakeweed is traditionally used to treat diabetes and fever. In West Africa, the juice from the plant is used to treat cataract and sores on children’s ears. In Brazil, fresh leaf is crushed and applied on ulcers.
• Leaf extracts were shown to protect liver cells from a toxic chemical (Joshi et al 2010).The level of protection was comparable to a standard hepatoprotective drug called Liv-52.

• https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/2/4/2475
• https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/867168
• http://natureloveyou.sg/Stachytarpheta%20jamaicensis/Main.html

The information in this website is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.