Geophila repens (L.) I.M.Johnst.

Geophila repens is a low creeping herb 0.1 meters tall from the Rubiaceae family spread from Africa to America and the Caribbean, forming dense colonies in shaded places. In Africa, its leaves are eaten by infertile women to restore fertility, while in the Malay Peninsula it is used as a poultice for sore feet and a diarrhea remedy. In Paraguay, this plant is traditionally used to treat skin diseases.

G. repens lives in lowland forests, in areas that are not too dry, usually below 1,000 m asl, but sometimes up to an elevation of 1,600 m asl. Grows best in the shade of tropical and subtropical forests. Prefers humus-rich soil. Succeeds in moist to wet soil. Sometimes found as a weed in banana plantations.

• Stem square to terete, hairless, rooting at the nodes, 25-35 cm long, reproductive branches rising, 10-15 cm tall. Interpetiolar stipules, broadly ovate, 1.5 mm long, 2.0 mm wide, persistent.
• Leaves opposite; petiole 2.4-6.8 cm long, with ciliate trichome rows; blade broadly ovate, 1.8-2.5 cm long, 2.5-3.8 cm wide, heart-shaped at the base, mostly entire, rounded at the apex, membranous when dry, hairless on both surfaces, secondary veins 3-4 pairs. Inflorescence 2-3 flowered cymes, puberulent to hairless; stalk 2-3.4 cm long; bracts 2, lanceolate to narrowly triangular, 5-6 mm long.
• Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic; stalk 1.5-2.0 mm long; calyx puberulent to hairless, sepals 5, 3-4 mm long, linear to narrowly lanceolate, ciliate; corolla white, finely puberulous to hairless outside, hairless inside, corolla tube 9-10 mm long, lobes 5, 5-6 mm, narrowly ovate to broadly lanceolate, tapering. Stamens 5, anther dorsifixed, 2 mm long, inserted into the corolla tube. Ovary ellipsoid, 1.5-2.0 mm in diameter, 2-celled, 1 ovule per cell, 5-6 mm long, stigma discoid.
• Fruit a red-seeded, round, fleshy berry, with a persistent calyx stalk, 5-7 mm in diameter, hairy to smooth; pyrenes hard, plano-convex, back smooth to shallowly rugulose, belly with a medium ridge and 2 submarginal longitudinal grooves.
• Seeds medium-sized, testa membranous, endosperm corneous.

Propagation generatively by seed and vegetatively by stem cuttings and micropropagation.

Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated sesquiterpenes, monoterpene hydrocarbons, diterpenes, oxygenated monoterpenes, β-caryophyllene, β-elemene, farnesyl butanoate, myrcene, trans-nerolidol, and α-caryophyllene.

Heals coughs, an effective antifungal agent, a poultice for sore feet, treats diarrhea, reduces fever especially in infants, addresses stomach problems and anemia in infertile women, restores strength and fertility, treats inflamed eyes, treatment of skin diseases, has diuretic properties.

Pegaga ular, Pegaga tikus, Pantat berok.