Gomphrena serrata L.

Rumput kancing putih (Gomphrena serrata) is an annual or perennial herb up to 0.5 meters tall from the Amaranthaceae family, a plant native to America now considered an invasive weed in India and Ecuador. All parts of this plant are used in Indian traditional medicine, with research proving its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity. Rumput kancing putih is traditionally believed to treat asthma, diarrhea, and hemorrhoids.

Rumput kancing putih grows from lowlands up to an elevation of 2,400 m asl. Grows in reasonably fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Rumput kancing putih is able to tolerate moderate heat and drought. Grows in sandy soil, black clay soil with a limestone layer, hardened sandy limestone soil, on coastal sand dunes and in saline soil at acidic, neutral or alkaline pH.

• Roots fibrous, rooting at nodes and lower segments.
• Stem prostrate, spreading branches or upright tips, hairy.
• Leaves sessile or short-petioled, up to 0.6 cm long, blade green, oblong to oblong, 1.5-7.5 × 0.5-2.5 cm, tip rounded or blunt, hairy.
• Flowers spike-shaped inflorescence white in color, round to short cylindrical, 9-13 mm in diameter, bractlets with a denticulate apex along the keel. Flowers: tube densely lanate, perianth lobes white, narrowly oblong, 4-5 mm, tip thinning.
• Fruit a sac (utricle), ovate, 2.2 mm, apex pointed.
• Seeds 1.2 mm.

Propagation generatively using seeds.

Flavonoids, essential oil, alkaloids, tannins, phenols, saponins, steroids, acid compounds, glycosides, amino acids, oleuropein, phytosterols, terpenoids.

Treats asthma, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, dermatitis and allergies. Has anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant activity.

Bunga kancing.