Scutellaria barbata
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 | |
|---|---|
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.
References
- "Scutellaria barbata". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
- Scutellaria barbata. Flora of China.
- Tao and Balunas, page 4
- Tao and Balunas, page 3
Bibliography
- Tao, Guyeng; Balunas, Marcy J. (22 April 2016). Current Therapeutic Role and Medicinal Potential of Scutellaria barbata in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Research – via University of Connecticut.