Damascisa

Glinus dictamnoides Burman f.; Mollugo glinus A. Richard; M. hirta Thunberg

Stems 0.5-3.5 dm. Leaves whor-led; petiole 1-7 mm; blade obovate or orbiculate to broadly spatulate, 5-25 × 0.4-17 mm, base cuneate, apex broadly rounded to acute. Flowers in clusters of 3-15; sepals lanceolate, 3.5-4.1 × 0.4-2 mm, stellate-pubescent abaxially, glabrous adaxially, apex rounded to acute or slightly mucronate; stamens 3-5. Capsules ellipsoid, 3.6-4.5 × 1.8-2 mm. Seeds 10-25 per locule, orange-brown, 0.4-0.6 × 0.3-0.4 mm, papillate, somewhat glossy or dull; papillae sometimes black. 2n = 36.

Flowering late summer-fall. Moist soils, river bottoms, lake margins, marshes, waste places; 0-1300 m; introduced; Ark., Calif., Kans., La., Mo., Okla., Tex.; Mexico; West Indies; South America; Eurasia; Africa; Australia.

Glinus lotoides is native to Eurasia and Africa and has become widespread in tropical, subtropical, and warm-temperate areas worldwide. Several varieties have been described, but their delimitations are unclear and need further investigation. The vernacular name "damascisa" is applied to this species, as well as several other plants, which are used in Africa for treatment of diabetes and skin ailments (A. El-Hamidi et al. 1967). In India, the species is used as treatment for diarrhea, boils, and abdominal diseases, as well as weakness in children (K. R. Kirtikar and B. D. Basu 1935). Antihelmintic properties are reported for G. lotoides from several African studies (B. Abegaz and B. Tecle 1980; G. Broberg 1980).