Blue porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis)

Pecut kuda or blue porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis) is a species of plant in Verbenaceae, 1-3 meters high, woody stems although small, tapering roots, the entire surface of the stem is brown and dark green with green leaves and blue flowers.

S. jamaicensis has leaves 1-4.5 inches wide and up to 2.5 inches long, light green all year round in all seasons but turning dark green when exposed to sunlight all day. The leaves are round or oval with small serrated edges arranged opposite the main stem.

The inflorescences are purple or bluish-purple, the petals located on the stalk are green and scaly. Each stalk consists of several flowers that are clustered along a line.

Flowers are 0.3 inches wide, crown consisting of 5 petals or odd. Bud along the stalk, then begin to bloom sequentially from the bottom of the stalk to the top of the stalk. The flower only lasts a day, then it is replaced by another bud at the top.

S. jamaicensis grows in roadsides, untreated gardens, meadows, open areas that receive sunlight and generally thrives on sandy soils at elevations of up to 700 meters.

Blue porterweed contains alkaloids and glycos to treat tonsillitis, sore throat, cough and Hepatitis A. Traditional medicine uses this plant to treat infections, urinary stones, rheumatism, irregular menstruation and vaginal discharge.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Verbenaceae
Tribe: Duranteae
Genus: Stachytarpheta
Species: Stachytarpheta jamaicensis

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