Iresine diffusa f. herbstii (Hook.) Pedersen

Bayam-bayaman merah (Iresine diffusa f. herbstii) is a herb up to 1.5 meters tall of the Amaranthaceae family, native to Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru. Its leaves, crushed in water, produce a natural red color used to dye grass jelly. Brazilian communities traditionally use it to heal wounds, while in the Andes Mountains of northern Peru it is used in traditional ritual medicine.

Bayam-bayaman merah can be found growing at elevations of 500-1,500 m above sea level. Its growing environment is in areas with a minimum temperature in the range of 10-15°C, position in full sunlight or shade. Grows best in humus-rich, moist, and well-drained soil.

• Root a taproot.
• Stem upright, growing spreading or climbing, round, many-branched, hairless, red in color.
• Leaves single, reddish-purple in color, clearly visible veins in light purple, ovate-shaped, opposite leaf position, ovate-lance-shaped, retuse-type tip edge (has two lobes).
• Flowers small, greenish-white or yellowish-white corolla petals, oblong-shaped.
• Seeds small in size.

Propagated generatively (seed) and vegetatively (stem cuttings).

Alkaloid, flavonoid, glycoside, phenol, phytosterol, saponin, tannin, thiol, furan-2-carboxylic acid, 2-Ethyl-2-hexen-1-al, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, methyl 14-methylpentadecanoate, palmitic acid, methyl linolelaidate, linolenic acid methyl ester, 2,5-dihydroxycyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione, 5-chloropyridin-2-ol, 17-Carboxyoctadeca-2,4-dien-1-ylium.

Heals wounds, cancer treatment, eczema, wounds and acne, fever, kidney problems, postpartum tonic, has anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activity.

Miyana mangkuk, Burih ayam.