GARDEN COSMOS/MEXICAN ASTER

I bought the lavender colour garden cosmos from the Kampung Simee market last week as I thought the flowers were so pretty. I knew that they were somewhat related to the orange and yellow cosmos that my mum has in her garden. Here is some information about this garden plant.

Common names/Nama tempatan: Garden Cosmos, Mexican Aster
Scientific name/Nama Saintifik: Cosmos bipinnatus
Family/Famili: Asteraceae

Reference/Rujukan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CosmosBipinnatus002.JPG

NYONYA MAKAN SIRIH/BLEEDING GLORY BOWER

Nama tempatan/Common names: Nyonya makan sirih, Bleeding-Heart Vine, Glory bower, Bagflower

Nama saintifik/Scientific name: Clerodendron thomsonae/Clerodendrum thomsoniae

Famili/Family: Verbenaceae

Kegunaan/Khasiat:

1. Dalam perubatan tradisional digunakan untuk merawat sakit telinga. Tumbuk daun dan titis air daun tadi ke dalam telinga.


2. Minum air rebusan daun untuk membuang toksin dalam badan.

Medicinal Uses

1. In traditional medicinal it is used to treat ear ache. Pound the leaves of the plant and squeeze the water from the leaves into the ear.


2. Boil the leaves in water and drink it to rid body of toxins.
   

Rujukan/References:

Taman Herba Perak

http://www.morris.umn.edu/academic/biology/database/html/Clerodendrum_thomsoniae.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Clerodendron_thomsoniae1.jpg

TEH PAGAR

Nama tempatan: Teh pagar, Fukien Tea Tree, Wild Tea Tree, Wild Tea, Ehretia buxifolia, Ehretia microphylla, Forest tea

Nama saintifik: Carmona microphylla/Carmona retusa

Nama Cina: 小叶厚壳树 , 满福木 , 福建茶

Famili: Boraginaceae

Kegunaan/Khasiat:

1. Minum air rebusan akar untuk merawat penyakit sifilis, penawar racun tumbuhan, merawat lemah badan, uzur dan penawar ibu selepas bersalin.
2. Rendam daun dalam air mendidih dan minum apabila sudah suam untuk merawat batuk, cirit, cirit birit berdarah, sakit perut, demam panas dan merangsang peluh.

Rujukan:

Taman Herba Perak

Tanaman Hiasan: Khasiat Makanan & Ubatan oleh Ong Hean Chooi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmona_(plant)

http://www.natureloveyou.sg/Plants-C.html

TERUNG PIPIT

Nama tempatan: Terung pipit

Nama saintifik: Solanum torvum

Kegunaaan/Khasiat:

• Digunakan sebagai ubat tradisional untuk membesarkan dada. Buah dan daun dimakan sebagai ulam/masak gulai.
• Untuk merawat luka dalam mulut, jus perahan buah dibuat kumuran.
• Untuk merendahkan tekanan darah tinggi, makan buah sebagai ulam.
• Untuk mengubat resdung, akar diasah dan sapu pada muka.
• Untuk merawat sakit gigi, buah yang panas disumbat pada gigi.

Rujukan: Taman Herba Perak

GANDARUSA

When I was reading up on a herb called Gandarusa 尖尾鳳 (Justicia Gendarussa Burm. F.) I found out that besides having medicinal uses, the leaves of the plant are also used to ward off evil. It seems that putting a few leaves of the gandarusa will help to prevent being disturbed by supernatural beings. Stalks of the leaves are also used in offering ceremonies by bomohs as well as to heal the sick. It is believed that planting the plant in ones compound would deter evil spirits from entering the house.

Common name: Gandarusa, Water Willow, Willow-Leaved Justicia, Daun rusa, Kisi-kisi

Scientific name: Justicia Gendarussa Burm. F.

Family: Acanthaceae

Chinese name: 驳骨丹 , 小驳骨 , 接骨草

Medicinal uses:

Gandarusa is used in traditional medicine to treat respiratory disorders like cough, cold, bronchitis, throat infections, pulmonary infections and allergic disorders like bronchial asthma.

References:

http://www.natureloveyou.sg/Justicia%20gendarussa/Main.html

http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Gandarusa.html

SAMBANG DARAH/FIRESTORM

I am discovering that many of the ornamental plants found in my school have medicinal properties. The above plant with leaves that are green on the top surface and red on the lower surface is known as Sambang Darah or Firestorm.

Below is the information for this plant.

MALAY VERSION

Rupa-rupanya banyak daripada tanaman hiasan yang ditanam di sekeliling sekolah yang saya mengajar ada mempunyai khasiat ubatan. Pokok di atas yang mempunyai daun yang berwarna hijau di permukaan dan berwarna merah di permukaan bawah diberi nama sambang darah. Berikut adalah maklumat tentang pokok ini.

Nama tempatan/Common names: Sambang darah, Daun sambang, Buta-buta, Bebuta, Firestorm, Chinese Croton

Nama saintifik/Scientific name: Excoecaria Cochinchinensis Lour.

Nama Cina/Chinese name: 紅背桂, 青紫木

Famili/Family: Euphorbiaceae

Khasiat ubatan tradisional:

Daun yang ditumbuk lumat ditampal pada tempat berdarah.

Air rebusan daun atau akar pokok ini diminum oleh kaum wanita untuk merawat masalah haid dan sebagai rawatan untuk ibu yang baru lepas bersalin.

Semua bahagian pokok digunakan sebagai ubat untuk demam campak, parotitis, penyakit tonsil, sakit otot.

Uses in traditional medicine:

The pounded leaves is applied to wounds.

Water boiled from the leaves and roots of the plant is drunk by ladies who have menstrual problems and also is used for treatment by ladies in confinement.

All parts are used as medicine for measles, parotitis, tonsillitis, strain of lumbar muscles

Rujukan/References:

Tanaman Hiasan: Khasiat Makanan & Ubatan oleh Ong Hean Chooi

http://www.hkflora.com/v2/leaf/euphor_show_plant.php?plantid=1055

ARROWROOT (MARANTA ARUNDINACEA L.)

Common names/Nama tempatan: Arrowroot, Obedience plant, Ubi Garut, Ubi Sakut, Berolu, Sagu Belanda

Scientific name/Nama Saintifik: Maranta Arundinacea L.

Family/Famili: Matantaceae

Medicinal uses:

• The pounded root can be used as a poultice for wounds and insect bites.
• The tuber when eaten raw is used to treat urinary problems.
• Drinking water boiled with the tuber is said to be diuretic.
• Arrowroot powder mixed with water and sugar is said to be a cure for dysentery.

VERSI BAHASA MELAYU

Khasiat perubatan:

• Akar ditumbuk lumat-lumat dan ditampal pada luka, sengatan dan patukan haiwan bisa.
• Ubi yang segar dimakan mentah untuk merawat masalah pundi dan saluran kencing.
• Air rebusan diminum untuk merawat penyakit dalam saluran air kecil.
• Tepung Ubi Sakut dicampur air dan gula untuk merawat penyakit disenteri.

References/Rujukan:

Tanaman Hiasan: Khasiat Makanan dan Ubatan oleh Ong Hean Chooi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maranta_arundinacea

NEGLECTED PLANTS

I wasn't very pleased when I went back to school on Wednesday to check on the plants in the Herb Garden and Fruit Garden. Quite a number of the plants looked withered and a few were in critical condition. Last week, I was in school from Tuesday to Thursday and the plants were fine as I watered them and there was a lot of rain.
When I asked the janitors they told me that the labourers who were building the wall for the school was using the hose and they couldn't use it. Furthermore, they told me that there was rain. I think that is really a lame excuse. They could jolly well fill containers to water the plants since it is one of the task they have to do daily.
I have often told everyone that we have to treat the plants well because we would also gain merit by showing love to nature. I was actually quite upset when I saw the condition of the plants and called the supervisor, Encik Mat, to ask him to tell the workers to spruce up the Herb Garden and Fruit Garden.

I find that the Herb Garden and the Fruit Garden become neglected during the holidays as the workers tend to neglect it. During school days, another teacher and I would find time to water the plants and the librarians help to tidy the place. At the present moment I would be embarassed to entertain visitors.

SPIRAL GINGER: THEN AND NOW

This picture was taken on 15th July 2009 a couple of months after I first planted the spiral ginger (Costus speciosus) . Note the small flower pot that I used to plant it.

I took this photo of the spiral ginger plant in my house in Sitiawan last week. It has grown really big but has not started to flower yet. I notice that the shoots are growing upright instead of spiral. I wonder how big the plant would grow if I took some of the shoots to plant on the ground.

WORKING ON HERB GARDEN BLOG

During the school holidays, I can find time to work on the Taman Herba STESMA blog by adding information about more plants. However my Bahasa Melayu is not that great and so I need my friends to either translate or help check for grammatical and spelling errors. Since it is the holidays, I can't meet them often enough and so many of the posts are in English or the Malay language version may not be too correct. So please bear with me until I get them to proof read my articles that are in Bahasa Melayu.

BIGLEAF HYDRANGEA (BUNGA TIGA BULAN)

Common names: Hydrangea, French Hydrangea, Lacecap Hydrangea, Mophead Hydrangea, Penny Mac dan Hortensia, Bunga Tiga Bulan, Pokok Bunga Siti Zubaidah

Scientific name: Hydrangea macrophylla

Genus: Hydrangea

Family: Hydrangeaceae

Uses:
Hydrangea is an herbal medicine used to treat bladder problems and kidney stones.

Warning
Though some parts of the roots have medicinal value, the leaves, flowers and stems of the hydrangea are toxic and can produce nausea, sweating and vomiting if large quantities are ingested.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrangea_macrophylla
http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/articles/2009/02/02/features/features04.txt
http://www.liberherbarum.com/Minor/UK/PN3390.htm
http://www.health-care-tips.org/herbal-medicines/hydrangea.htm

SENDUDUK

Taman Herba sekolah saya ada Pokok Senduduk Putih dan pokok itu sekarang setinggi enam kaki. Baru-baru ini saya beli Pokok Senduduk Ungu dari Pasar Tani.

Nama tempatan: Keduduk putih; Senduduk Ungu; Senggani; Senduduk Ungu; Bank's Melastoma, Harendog, Indian Rhododendron, Indian-Rhododendron, Malabar Melastome, Straits Rhododendron

Nama saintifik:Tibouchina semidecandra
Famili: Melastomataceae

Keterangan

Bunga senduduk yang paling biasa dijumpai berwarna ungu gelap hingga ke merah jambu dan putih. Jenis berwarna putih ialah jenis yang paling jarang dijumpai tumbuh liar. Ia ditanam untuk tujuan perubatan.

Kegunaan:

• Dari segi perubatan tradisional, pokok senduduk putih boleh dijadikan ubat terkena racun atau santau.
• Bunga senduduk putih dikatakan mempunyai khasiat mengubati batuk yang lama.
• Ia juga dikatakan dapat mengubati kanak-kanak yang mempunyai masalah pertuturan (lambat boleh bercakap).
• Daunnya yang tua ditumbuk bersama kunyit hidup dan dicampur dengan air digunakan untuk merawat masalah cirit birit dan berak berdarah.
• Dalam perubatan tradisional senduduk putih digunakan untuk mengubati penyakit keputihan yang biasa dialami oleh wanita. Dua ranting senduduk putih direbus bersama sedikit gula batu, halia dan daun bonglai untuk diminum air.
• Digunakan dalam perubatan tradisional sebagai tumbuhan untuk mengembalikan kecergasan badan terutamanya selepas bersalin. Daun senduduk bersama daun mengkudu, serai wangi, pandan dan limau purut dicampur bersama air panas dan dijadikan rempah untuk mandi teresat selepas bersalin, selalunya selama 3 pagi selepas melahirkan.
• Daunnya yang tua dan gugur kebumi akan bertukar warna menjadi merah muda. Daun ini ditumbuk dan air tapisannya diminum untuk menyembuhkan luka dalaman selepas bersalin.
• Senduduk juga boleh digunakan untuk merawat cirit birit, brak berdarah dan buasir dengan cara meminum air rebusan daunnya.
• Pes daunnya yang ditumbuk juga boleh menghilangkan parut akibat pelentong/bertih/cacar air

Rujukan:

http://www.melur.com/myherba.asp?plant_id=171&cat=HERBA

http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senduduk

PENTAS/STAR FLOWER

This is my mum's penta flower plant. I think I bought it for her for RM5.00 at the beginning of this year. It has grown much bigger and I am happy to say that it is bearing a lot of flowers. I bought it for the Taman Herba in my school but somehow the plant doesn't seem to be bearing much flowers and it looks a bit withered.

Here is information about the plant:

Common names: Penta; Pentas; Star flower; Star cluster; Egyptian Stars
Scientific name:Pentas lanceolata
Family: Rubiaceae - Madder family

VERSI BAHASA MELAYU
Ini adalah pokok bunga penta ibu saya. Kalau saya tak silap, saya belikan pokok ini untuk harga RM5.00 untuk dia pada awal tahun ini. Pokok ini kian membesar dan ada banyak bunga sekarang. Saya juga beli pokok bunga ini untuk Taman Herba sekolah saya tetapi pokok itu nampaknya tidak berapa sihat.

Nama tempatan: Penta; Pentas; Star flower, Star cluster; Egytian Stars
Nama saintifik: Pentas lanceolata
Famili: Rubiaceae - Madder family

BLOOMING PROFUSELY AND NOT BLOOMING PROFUSELY

My mum grows the garlic vine plant in her garden but then it does not seem to bear a lot of flowers. This picture was taken this morning with only a few blooms of the flower.
Here is a close-up of the garlic vine flowers along the main fence of my house.

Me posing in front of the garlic vine plant with lots and lots of flowers. This is a house in my neighbourhood in Ipoh. My mum says the lady uses a lot of fertilisers to have the flowers bloom in such quantities. The picture was taken this morning.

My mum would stop to admire the flowers in this house each morning when she goes for her walks.

Look at how lovely the flowers are. However the flowers only last about 7 days at the most and then they turn brown.

Imagine if my mum's plant were to flower like this. I bet she would be in the garden the whole day admiring them.

MY MUM'S HERB GARDEN

Unbeknownst to her, my mum actually has more than 70 species of herbal plants in her garden. She loves gardening and would keep buying plants that she fancies. I am all for my mum's hobby as it keeps her healthy and happy since doing the weeding, watering and planting will give her the exercise she wants and the sunlight and fresh air does wonders for her wellbeing.

VERSI BAHASA MELAYU

TAMAN HERBA IBU SAYA

Tanpa disedari ibu saya, beliau ada lebih daripada 70 spesis herba di halaman taman bunga dia. Ibu saya gemar berkebun dan suka membeli pokok-pokok yang beliau berminat. Saya memang sokong hobi ibu saya kerana ia dapat menjadikan beliau sihat dan gembira. Aktiviti berkebun merupakan senaman dan cahaya matahari dan udara segar dapat membantu kesihatannya.