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Family • Pontederiaceae
Gabing-uak
Monochoria vaginalis Presl.
OVAL-LEAF PONDWEED

Other scientific names  Common names
Pontederia vaginalis Burm. Biga-bigaan (Tag.)
Monochoria ovata Kunt. Bil-lagut (Ilk.)
  Gabi-gabi (P. Bis., C. Bis.)
  Gabing-uak (Tag.)
  Hahalung (If.)
  Hakhaklung (If.)
  Kalabua (Tag.)
  Lagtang (Bik.)
  Lapalapa (Ilk.)
  Saksaklung (Ig.)
  Saksakong (Bon.)
  Upi-upi (Bik.)
  Arrowleafed monochoria
  Heartshape false pickerelweed (Engl.)
  Pickerelweed (Engl.)
  Oval-leaf pondweed (Engl.)

Botany
Smaller than gabi-gabihan (Monochoria hastata). Rootstocks are short, suberect or creeping. Leaves are variable, long-petioled, linear to ovate, oblong-ovate to broadly ovate, with a sharply acuminate apex and cordate base. Petioles are usually less than 30 cm. Infloresences are few, 3-6 cm long. Flowers are blue, about 1 cm long, pedicles less than 1 cm long. Capsules are oblong.

Distribution
In low and medium altitudes, in open wet places, rice paddies, etc.

Parts utilized
Leaves, roots.

Properties and constituents
Root stock and leaves are cooling, bitter, sweet, aromatic, alterant, diuretic and tonic.

Uses
Edibility
Tubers, leaves and aerial parts are eaten, raw or cooked.
Folkloric
Leaves are poulticed after boils have burst.
Juice of roots for stomach and liver problems, asthma and toothace.
In Java leaf juice use for coughs; roots for stomach and liver complaints, asthma and toothache.
In India, used for burns and scalds; general debility, fever, hemorrahge, cough and scurvy. Used for dipsia, strangury, gastropathy, hepatopathy, odontalgia, scurvy and hemorrhages.
Paniya tribe of India use the leaves for diabetes.
In Ayurvedic and Unani medicine, root is chewed for toothaces and sugared bark for asthma.

Studies
• Monochoria vaginalis is one of the plants considered promising candidates for cleaning up arsenic-contaminated surface water and wetland areas.


Availability
Wild-crafted. 


Last Update May 2011
Photos © Godofredo Stuart / StuartXchange

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Anti-pyretic effect of Monochoria vaginalis Presl in rodents / B.Kaushik, R. Patel et al / National seminar on Research and Education in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 13/04/08, GRY Institute of Pharmacy,Borawan- Khargon, MP, (2008)
(2)
Assessment of potential indigenous plant species for the phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated areas of Bangladesh.
R Mahmud, N Inoue, SY Kasajima, R Shaheen / Int J Phytoremediation (0) 10: 117-30.
(3)
Indian medicinal plants: a compendium of 500 species / P. K. Warrier, V. P. K. Nambiar / Volume 4
(4)
Uses of Wild Edibles Among the Paniya Tribe in Kerala, India / Conservation and Sustainable Use of Agricultural Biodiversity / A Sourcebook
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