Keji beling (Strobilanthes crispa)

Keji beling (Strobilanthes crispa) is a species of plant in the Acanthaceae, shrub, 1-2 meters high, upright, woody and sturdy, stems are jointed, cylindrical in shape, coarse hairs, green in color, branches touch the ground and come out of the roots so they can be separated from the plant parent, single root and light brown in color.

S. crispa has leaves with stalks and sits opposite each other. The strands are lanceolate, elongated or almost oblong, 17 cm long, 7 cm wide, serrated edges, tapered tip and base and rough surfaces on both sides. The veins are pinnate and green.

The inflorescences are compound and gathered in dense spikelets. The crown is funnel-shaped, 5 parts, hairy and yellow or purple in color. Stamens 4 items, white and yellow. Spindle-shaped fruit with 2-4 seeds. The seeds are round, flat, small, and brown.

This species grows in forests, riverbanks, cliffs and roadsides at elevations of 50-1200 meters, rainfall of 2500-4000 mm/year, sandy to clay soil and a pH of 5.5-7. This plant reproduces easily in fertile soil, somewhat protected and open places.

This plant contains alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, polyphenols (tocopherol, cinnamic acid, phosphatide), catechins, caffeine, silicic acid, kersic acid. This plant is used as an anti-diabetic, diuretic, anti-syphilis, antioxidant, antimicrobial and laxative, dysentery, diarrhea, kidney stones, fever, lowering cholesterol, hemorrhoids, poisonous snake bites, urine laxative, leukemia and preventing AIDS.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Subfamily: Acanthoideae
Tribe: Ruellieae
Subtribe: Strobilanthinae
Genus: Strobilanthes
Species: Strobilanthes crispa

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