Oldenlandia Diffusa

''Scleromitrion diffusum'', synonyms including ''Hedyotis diffusa'', is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae. It is a herb used in traditional Chinese medicine, known as , sometimes abbreviated to 蛇舌草 shéshécǎo. It is sometimes combined with '' Siraitia grosvenorii'' () and ''Scutellaria barbata'' () to make hot drinks like lohoguo of guongsei () or luohanguo pearl and sheshecao beverage.For example

Taxonomy

There is considerable confusion over the application of the name ''Hedyotis diffusa'' Willd. and its synonyms. In the sense used in the ''Flora of China'', and in much research on the phytochemistry, pharmacology and potential medical applications of the species, ''Hedyotis diffusa'' refers to a plant with solitary-flowered (or at most two- or three-flowered) inflorescences. In 1990, a herbarium specimen of a plant with different form of inflorescence was chosen as the lectotype. In 2021, it was proposed that the name ''Hedyotis diffusa'' should be conserved, based on a one-flowered specimen as the type. Synonyms of ''Hedyotis diffusa'' then include ''Oldenlandia diffusa'' (Willd.) Roxb. and ''Scleromitrion diffusum'' (Willd.) R.J.Wang. These are the homotypic synonyms accepted by Plants of the World Online , which treated the taxon as ''Scleromitrion diffusum''.

Distribution

Wild ''Scleromitrion diffusum'' is native to tropical and subtropical Asia.

References

Spermacoceae
Flora of temperate Asia
Flora of tropical Asia
Plants described in 1798
Plants used in traditional Chinese medicine

{{Rubioideae-stub