饭包草 fan bao cao

Commelina cavaleriei H. Léveillé.

Herbs perennial. Stems mostly creeping, ascending distally, diffuse, numerous branched, to 70 cm, sparsely pubescent. Leaf sheaths sparsely hirsute-ciliate; petiole distinct; leaf blade ovate, 3--7 × 1.5--3.5 cm, subglabrous. Involucral bracts borne opposite leaves, often several, aggregated at apex of branches, very shortly stalked, funnelform, 0.8--1.2 cm, sparsely hairy, proximal margins connate, apex acute or obtuse. Proximal branch of cincinni with elongate peduncle and 1--3 exserted, infertile flowers, distal branch longer, with several included, fertile flowers. Sepals ca. 2 mm, membranous. Petals blue, 3--5 mm. Capsule ellipsoid, 4--6 mm, 3-valved; posterior valve 1-seeded or seedless, indehiscent; other 2 valves each 2-seeded, dehiscent. Seeds black, cylindric or semicylindric, ca. 2 mm, rugose, irregularly reticulate, truncate at 1 end. Fl. summer to autumn.

Wet places; near sea level to 2300 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia].

A medicinal herb with febrifugal, anti-inflammatory, and diuretic effects.