Gallery
Hedyotis diffusaHedyotis diffusa
Hedyotis diffusa
Hedyotis diffusaHedyotis diffusaHedyotis diffusaOverview
Scleromitrion diffusum, synonyms including Hedyotis diffusa, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae. It is a herb used in traditional Chinese medicine, known as Chinese: 白花蛇舌草; pinyin: báihuā shéshécǎo; lit. 'white flower snake-tongue grass', sometimes abbreviated to 蛇舌草 shéshécǎo.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/15/2026
It is sometimes combined with Siraitia grosvenorii (simplified Chinese: 罗汉果; traditional Chinese: 羅漢果; pinyin: luóhànguǒ) and Scutellaria barbata (Chinese: 半枝莲) to make hot drinks like lohoguo of guongsei (simplified Chinese: 罗汉果蛇舌草精; traditional Chinese: 羅漢果蛇舌草精; pinyin: luóhànguǒ shéshécǎo jīng) or luohanguo pearl and sheshecao beverage.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/15/2026
Life cycle
From seed to productSeed & germination
Ripe **seed** is collected and sown fresh or stored dry; germination is best on a moist, well-drained seedbed.
Seedling & growth
Young plants gain height, branch and build a stable canopy in their first growing season.
Flowering
In season the plant opens **small white flowers, June–August**, adding colour and nectar for insects.
Fruiting & harvest
Fruit ripens and seed is collected for propagation; **whole plant harvested in summer–autumn**.
Uses
- It is a herb used in traditional Chinese medicine, known as Chinese: 白花蛇舌草; pinyin: báihuā shéshécǎo; lit.
Habitat & conservation
Cây mọc dại ở Nhật Bản, Trung Quốc, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thái Lan, Việt Nam, Đài Loan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines.
Conservation
Hedyotis diffusa has not been assessed by the IUCN Red List (NE). As a medicinal plant, it benefits from sustainable collection and propagation to protect wild genetic resources.
References
- 1Wikipedia – Hedyotis diffusa — Wikipedia,
- 2Kew POWO – Hedyotis diffusa — Plants of the World Online (Kew),
- 3Wikidata – Q91471061 — Wikidata,