Matchweed

Phyla nodiflora

FY-luh no-dee-FLOR-uh

Verbenaceae

Native to: Native to Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America, South America.

Florida abundance and distribution: It grows on wet to poorly drained soils without humus, prefers low moist areas.  Low salt water tolerance.  Matchweed spreads by both seeds and stolons along prostrate stems; it creeps by rooted nodes.  Growth rate fast.  Full to partial sun.

Recognition:    Small creeping herbaceous wildflower, spreading and forming large open or dense patches.  About 1-3 inches in height; to 6 inches when in flower.  The green opposite leaves have small teeth at the outer tip.  Hairy branching stems.  The purple to white flowers emerge around the tip of the stalk forming a match-head appearance; therefore is known as “matchweed”.   It blooms all year round.

Other:     Also known as Mat Lippia, Mat-forming, Fog Fruit, Sawtooth, Fogfruit, Turkey Tangle, Capweed and Mat Grass.  This species attracts bees and butterflies, among other insects.  Use as an ornamental plant.  Believed to have numerous medicinal purpose.  A tea (chachahan) is made from the leaves; it is used as carminative, colds, fever and diuretic and for lithiasis.  In India, demulcent used in gonorrhea. Also, paste of leaves applied to swellings and wounds to swollen cervical glands, erysipelas and to chronic indolent ulcers.  Toasted tender stalks and leaves, in infusion, used for indigestion.  Juice of roots used for gastric problems.  Used for treatment of hookworms.  Used after childbirth.  Hindus used it for fever and as diuretic. Applied as paste to promote suppuration. 

Online References:   

 www.refionalconservation.org; www.learn2grow.com; www.stuartxchange.com.

Contributed by: Grace Walton