Scutellaria barbata, the barbed skullcap,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to Asia.[2]
Scutellaria barbata | |
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At Hong Kong Flower Show | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Lamiaceae |
Genus: | Scutellaria |
Species: | S. barbata |
Binomial name | |
Scutellaria barbata D.Don. | |
Description
It is a perennial herb generally reaching up to 35 centimeters tall, sometimes taller. The lightly toothed leaves are somewhat lance-shaped or triangular and up to about 3 centimeters long. The flowers are borne on pedicels that have tiny, sharp bracteoles. The purple-blue, lightly hairy flower corolla is roughly a centimeter long. The plant grows in moist and wet habitat, such as paddy fields.[2]
Distribution
The herb grows on the flat-lands in South Central China. It is usually harvested at the end of summer.[3]
Therapeutic usage
The herb is used to as a medicine to treat cancer. However, there have been multiple reports that patients who were treated with the herb struggled with inflammation and infection.[4]
They are also used to treat hepatitis, appendicitis, pulmonary abscess, and ascites due to cirrhosis.