Nymphoides indica (L.) Kuntze

Bunga tetepok (Nymphoides indica) is an aquatic plant up to 2 meters tall from the Menyanthaceae family spread from Nepal to Australia and the Pacific, nicknamed 'water snowflake' in English because of its white flowers resembling snowflakes. In 2011, this flower was designated one of Indonesia's national flowers. Bunga tetepok is traditionally used to relieve headaches and treat fever and dysentery.

Bunga tetepok grows in shallow, standing water, ponds, flooded rice fields, and lake edges, up to an elevation of 1,900 m. This plant prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade. It grows best when its roots are submerged in water 30-60 cm deep.

• Roots short stolons, submerged in water, with rhizomes.
• Stem cylindrical, unbranched, yellowish-green.
• Leaves glossy green above and pale below with scattered glands. Leaf blade ovate to subcordate, base heart-shaped, smooth margin, floating on the water surface, thickly fleshy.
• Flowers numerous, small, star-shaped with five white petals, covered with long white hairs on top with a yellow section in the center. Bunga tetepok flowers rise above the water surface with a stalk of 2-4 cm, slightly fragrant.
• Fruit ellipsoid, containing many seeds.
• Seeds smoothly round, pale brown.

Propagation generatively (seeds) or vegetatively (leaf and stem cuttings).

5 lipophilic compounds (azelaic (nonanedioic) acid, 4-methyl-heptanedioic acid, hexadecanoic acid, stearic acid, and hexadecanol fatty alcohol), 3 seco-iridoids (7-epiexaltoside, 6″,7″-dihydro-7-epiexaltoside, menthiafolin), flavonoids (3,7-di-O-methylquercetin-4'-O-β-glucoside, 3-O-methylquercetin-7-O-β-glucoside, 3,7-di-O-methylquercetin, quercetin 3,7-dimethyl ether 4′-glucoside), scopoletin, ferulic acid, monoterpenoids foliamenthoic acid, and 6,7-dihydrofoliamenthoic acid methyl ester.

Treats dysentery, scabies, snake bites, jaundice, headaches, fever, rheumatism, gallbladder problems, swelling, has antipyretic, anticonvulsant (preventing or treating seizures), aphrodisiac, antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, antioxidant, and mild-to-moderate antidiabetic properties.

• Take fresh bunga tetepok plant and wash until clean.
• Dry under direct sunlight or using an oven.
• Once the leaves are completely dry, store in a well-closed container protected from light to maintain the quality of the preparation.

Teratai sudamala (Bali), Bunga telepok, Bunga telipuk, Tarate, Teratai bulu ayam.