Medicinal Plants

Elatostema reticulatum Wedd.

Bayam Hutan

Urticaceae

Location in the garden Greenhouse
Photo 1 of medicinal plant Elatostema reticulatum (Bayam Hutan) Photo 2 of medicinal plant Elatostema reticulatum (Bayam Hutan) Photo 3 of medicinal plant Elatostema reticulatum (Bayam Hutan)

Summary

Elatostema reticulatum or bayam hutan is native to eastern Australia and the Solomon Islands. Its young stems and leaves can be cooked as a spinach substitute, while traditionally this plant is also used as an herbal remedy to address digestive disorders such as stomachache, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Agroecology

Bayam hutan grows in shaded, moist to wet areas on rocks along or in streams in rainforest. Its elevation range is from 110 to 1,250 m asl.

Morphology

  • Roots a taproot.
  • Stem about 7 mm in diameter, green, round, hairy.
  • Leaves simple, opposite, green, sessile (petiole <2 mm) or short-petioled (2-4.5 mm long), blade unlobed. Stipules narrowly triangular, covering the terminal bud. Blade with sparse long hairs on the lower (abaxial) surface, hairless on the upper (adaxial) surface, ovate to elliptic shaped, often slightly falcate, margin uniformly toothed, base asymmetric or oblique, tip tapering, surface not wrinkled (rugose). Venation pinnate, symmetric, with 10-13 pairs of veins. Cystoliths linear, present on the primary, secondary, and tertiary veins on the lower (abaxial) surface. Oil spots visible on the upper surface of the blade as small craters.
  • Flowers unisexual, borne in a dense umbel subtended by bracts. Tepals greenish to transparent with a rib on the outer surface extending beyond the blunt tip. Male inflorescence pedunculate, branched, irregular, involucral bracts present, hairy. Male flowers actinomorphic, tepals 4 or 5, connate (at least the lower half) to nearly free, hairy, stamens 5, bent inward, anthers Y-shaped, anthers exploding explosively to release pollen in a small cloud, ovary rudimentary. Female inflorescence sessile, involucral bracts present, hairy. Female flowers actinomorphic (or slightly asymmetric), tepals 4, staminodes (rudimentary or sterile stamens) 3, ovary straight, style absent, stigma oblong, filiform to linear.
  • Fruit an achene, uncovered (or only partially), tuberculate, small, surface smooth, star-shaped, purplish.

Cultivation

Plant propagation by stem/root cuttings or layering.

Chemical Content

Information not found. Further research is needed.

Benefits

Treats stomachache, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Local Names

Gagatan nipei (Karo Gugung, Sumatra Utara).

Traditional Recipes

The following recipes reflect traditional knowledge passed down through generations, not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or advice. Consult a healthcare provider before use.

Traditional recipe Treats stomachache and diarrhea from Bayam Hutan

1. Treats stomachache and diarrhea

  • Prepare an adequate amount of bayam hutan leaves and stems and wash until clean.
  • Boil until it boils.
  • Let it cool to warm/cold.
  • Strain then drink.
Traditional recipe Vomiting and diarrhea from Bayam Hutan

2. Vomiting and diarrhea

  • Take one bayam hutan leaf and one gegatan harimau leaf and wash until clean.
  • Eat both leaves directly.
  • Eat 3 times a day.

Reference Sources

  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Plants of the World Online: Elatostema reticulatum Wedd.. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:852148-1. 22-07-2022.
  2. CSIRO. 2020. Elatostema reticulatum Wedd. https://apps.lucidcentral.org/rainforest/text/entities/elatostema_reticulatum.htm. 22-07-2022.
  3. Hadiah J.T. 2007. Systematics of Elatostema (Urticaceae). Thesis. University of New South Wales. Sydney.
  4. Wulandari F. 2020. Studi Etnobotani Ramuan Pengobatan Penyakit Sistem Pencernaan dan Peredaran Darah Pada Masyarakat Karo Gugung, Kabupaten Karo, Sumatera Utara. Skripsi. Universitas Sumatera Utara. Medan.