Microtea debilis Sw.

Narrowly taprooted herb. Stem ascending to prostrate, sharply angled, glabrous, to 50 cm long. Leaves elliptical or ovate (rhombic-ovate to oblanceolate), near base of plant to 8 x 3 cm, acute to acuminate, and apiculate at apex, cuneate at base, broadly decurrent on petiole, glabrous; petiole to 3 cm long. Inflorescence a 10-to 25-flowered raceme, 1.5-4(-5.5) cm long; bract seemingly only an enation, ovate, ca. 0.3 mm long, obtuse, green; pedicels 0.8-1.2 mm long; bracteole elliptical, ca. 0.8-1 mm long, scarious, often notched. Tepals lanceolate or ovate, 0.5-1.1 mm long, subacute or obtuse, white with green midvein; stamens 5, alternate with and reflexed between tepals, filaments ca. 0.5 mm long; style 1, stigmas 3-partite, linear, spreading. Achenes spreading from inflorescence-axis, greenish, globose, 1-1.5 mm in diam., echinulate in a honeycomb pattern; seed globose, ca. 1.3 mm in diam., black, smooth.

Uses: The plant is employed to remedy albumin in the urine and difficult urination (Ostendorf, 1962). In Guyana, as noted by Lachman-White et al. (1987), "The entire plant is used to make a tea which is used for palpitating heart conditions and to effect "cooling" of inflamed areas. The plant may be used with others, such as st. john's-bush (Justicia secunda) and inflammation-bush (Vernonia cinerea) as an abortifacient, it may be used as a lotion for ulcers, or, mixed with muniri-dan (Siparuna guianensis) and taken orally, in treating diabetes". Said to be used in Guyana as a cooling drink for the head (Warren s.n.). Formerly, in French Guiana an infusion made from the entire crushed plant was used in Creole medicine for a diuretic and hypotensive drink.