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Botany
Gabi-gabihan is fast-growing perennial herb. Leaves are long-petioled and the petioles
are stout, up to 60 cm long, sheathing below. Blade is broadly
ovate, 10-30 cm long, with a prominently hastate base and a broad
sinus, the lobes spreading and oblong-ovate. Inflorescence
is spicate, many flowered, 4 to 5 cm long. Flowers are blue, about
1 cm long, the lower ones with elongated pedicels.
Distribution
In open wet lands and swamps
at low and medium altitudes.
Constituents
Particularly rich in protein, 39.5%.
Properties
Alterative, cooling and tonic.
Parts utilized:
Leaves.
Uses
Edibility
In Malaya and Java, the leaves are eaten
as vegetable, raw or cooked.
Folkloric
The leaves are used for poulticing
boils after they have burst.
Juice of roots used for stomach pains, asthma, toothache.
Juice of leaves used for cough.
Used for insanity.
Root bark used for asthma.
Rhizomes pounded in charcoal used for scurf.
In India, used in a herbal
mixture to strengthen uterine tone.
In Bangladesh, used against diarrhea and dysentery; also, as an aphrodisiac.
Others
• Aquafeed: Roots and tender leaves used for grass carp fingerlings.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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