Native plants Garden

Native plants of Singapore

Geophila repens

Geophila repens

Common Name: Snake Pennywort, Pegaga Ular

Growth Requirements (including habitat): It grows in open, or shaded, damp places in the understorey of forests, secondary growth, and vegetation near the sea. It thrives in moist, well-drained soils. It occurs locally in Kampong Glam, Makeway Avenue, and Fort Canning Park.

Habit (Herb/Shrub/Treelet/Tree): It is a creeping herb, with upright branches up to about 0.08 m tall. Its opposite, stalked leaves have leaf blades that are heart-shaped, and 1.3–3.8 cm long and wide. It has white, trumpet-shaped flowers, up to 1.5 cm long, and found 1–3 together at the ends of slender stalks. Its pea-sized fruits are bright orange-red berries with narrow sepals on its tip.

G.repens1Uses: It is grown as an ornamental plant due to its attractive, bright orange red berries. It also possesses medicinal properties; the plant is applied to sore legs as a poultice, while taking the plant can also treat diarrhoea.

Interesting Information: The leaves are oppositely arranged, rounded with a heart-shaped base.

G.repens2Websites:

  1. https://florafaunaweb.nparks.gov.sg/Special-Pages/plant-detail.aspx?id=2030
  2. http://uforest.org/Species/G/Geophila_repens.html

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