Peperomia pellucida, is also known by common names such as: pepper elder, shining bush plant, crab claw herb, silverbush, rat-ear, man-to-man, clearweed, sirih Cina (Indonesia), luchi pata (West Bengal, India). An annual shallow-rooted herb. Found in damp shaded habitats all over Asia and America. About 15 to 45 cm height.
It is often considered as weed, then uprooted and thrown away, even though it has many benefits.
This plant likes moist and shady areas and can be found in various regions of the world, including the Neotropics (Central and South America, the Caribbean, and South Florida), Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia.
This plant can grow up to 0.4 meters high and is characterized by its leaves that are about 1-3.5 cm wide, oval or triangular-ovate, also similar to the shape of a heart, light green, succulent, and stems that are branched and hairless.
See also my various photos with high-resolution details about pepper elder and other floras on Shutterstock.
Small flowers arranged in a stalk pointing upwards without hairs 2-6 cm long. The flowers are surrounded by round protective leaves.
The dry fruit that does not break is known as a nutlet. The fruit is round and about 0.5 mm wide.
Peperomia pellucida is traditionally used in folk medicine for a variety of ailments, including inflammation, pain, and certain skin conditions.
In traditional Indonesian medicine, crushed leaves are rubbed onto the head to relieve headaches during fever. The juice of the leaves is drunk to treat stomachaches and colic. In the Philippines, the plant is applied as a poultice to abscesses and boils. In India, a decoction of the plant is drunk to stop bleeding. In Brazil it is used to lower cholesterol and treat infections.
The plant is also edible and can be consumed raw, or cooked, used in salads, or as a tea or herbal drink.
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