Ajuga reptans L.

Bugle (Ajuga reptans) is a stolon-forming herb 30-60 cm tall from the Lamiaceae family that originates from Europe, now invasive in parts of North America. The digitalis-like substance content is believed to give a cardiac tonic effect. Bugle is traditionally used to stop bleeding and treat coughing up blood.

Bugle prefers full sun to requiring partial shade, and grows well in clay, loam, sand soil types, with acidic soil pH (<6.0), and good soil drainage or sometimes wet.

• Roots fibrous, yellowish-brown.
• Stem solid, round-shaped, green.
• Leaves single, basal rosette, oblong, tapering tip, pointed base, 5-15 cm long, 2-5 cm wide, curved venation, hairy, wavy margin, purplish-green.
• Flowers compound, spike-shaped, at the stem tip, spike length 5-15 cm, tubular corolla, 1-2 cm long, purple.
• Fruit a box, each box containing 2-4 seeds, green.
• Seeds round, small, brown when young and turning black when old.

Propagation is done generatively (seeds) and vegetatively (separation of offshoots). Seeds usually germinate within 3-4 weeks at a temperature of 10 °C, although it can be erratic. Plant seedlings once large enough. Propagation by offshoot separation is very easy, divisions can be planted directly into their permanent location.

Ajugareptansone, ajugalactone, harpagide, aucubin, sterols, ecdysteroids, alkaloid, saponin, flavonoid, polyphenol, tannin, iridoid.

Ajuga reptans leaves are effective as a remedy for cough and boils, as an analgesic, cardiac, used during recovery, a laxative, treatment of hemoptysis, internal bleeding, addressing liver and spleen problems, mouthwash for pharyngeal irritation and mouth wounds, helps lower blood pressure (hypertension), treats wounds and bruises.

Ototan, Ajuga, Terompet ungu.