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Name That Plant!

need ID on plant from Puerto Rico

12 years ago

This plant was sent to me from a friend of my mother who lives in Puerto Rico. He told me I should use it to make a tea for my asthma. My problem is that I'm terrified to do this without knowing what this is! He gave me a name of "snake grass" and Yerba Culebra, but I can't find any information for either of these.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me...

Here is a link that might be useful: guest pass to mystery plant on flickr

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Comments (6)

saltcedar
12 years ago
Pilea nummulariifolia, I couldn't find any record of medicinal use.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
12 years ago
I looked around a bit and came up with the information that Yerba Culebra refers to Bacopa stricta. However, I didn't find any images of this plant, nor anything regarding any medicinal qualities. Google Bacopa stricta for mucho information. The term 'Yerba Culebra' simply implies a plant (or herb) from Culebra. This could be the local common name for the plant that was sent to you.

There's a Bacopa species that is said to be very valuable as a medicinal plant...Bacopa monniera. I'll attach an image of Bacopa monniera so that you can compare.

Here is a link that might be useful: Click to compare
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saltcedar
12 years ago
I took a slightly different tack and looked up Urticaceae Family which
includes this plant (Pilea) and Stinging nettles (Urtica)which is used in Asthma. Common names are dime a dozen and mostly useless.
peggy92646
Original Author
12 years ago
thanks for your input. I'm getting different responses on this so still not sure I want to ingest it :)

The bacopa reminds me more of it... with the lighter leaf. The Pilea seems to be a thicker (almost like a succulent?) leaf and smaller. This is just baffling.

Thanks much!
fatamorgana2121
12 years ago
I tried looking up both "Urtica nummulariifolia" and "Pilea nummulariifolia" in some of the larger herbal references I have and found nothing. But that is not surprising. There are thousands and thousands of medicinal plants worldwide. And each area in the world and each people with their own "materia medica," what they know and use for healing. There are many specific ethnobotanical references that the cover the specific herbal traditions of a particular people or area that include plants and herbal uses that don't make the more common herbal references. So just because I couldn't find a use for a specific plant doesn't mean that it isn't used. It might be from an herbal tradition that didn't make the references I used.

That said, however, I would take a much safer approach. Herbs can have powerful actions and can have side-effects as well as interacting with other medications and/or health conditions. If you wish to pursue herbal treatments, please do. But do it in a safe manner. There are herbalists and Naturopaths closer to home that you can see, discuss your medical history, and work with for herbal treatments. There are many herbs used in asthma treatments that are well-known and commonly used by herbalists.

And a very strong agreement from me that common names are useless!

FataMorgana
peggy92646
Original Author
12 years ago
thank you all so much. I use the common names so am ignorant to the fact that they might be more of a local thing! Live & learn -- love this site and thank you all for your assistance.

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