Ajuga decumbens

Ajuga decumbens is a herbaceous flowering plant native to China, Japan and Korea. It is commonly found in lightly forested sunny areas, such as meadows and roadsides between 400 and 2300 metres in altitude.^[2] This plant grows as a groundcover, and the leaf layer is usually no more than 100 millimetres (3.9 inches) tall. It flowers between April and June.^[3]

Ajuga decumbens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lamiaceae
Genus:	Ajuga
Species:	A. decumbens
Binomial name
Ajuga decumbens Thunb.
Synonyms[1]
Ajuga devestita H.Lév. & Vaniot.

Description

The purple to white erect flower stems can grow to 30 cm (12 in) tall, and are hermaphroditic. The corolla is straight, tubular and 8 mm (0.31 in) long. Petals are 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) long. The leaves are purplish green and are 3–6 cm (1.2–2.4 in) wide to 1.5–2.5 cm (0.59–0.98 in) long.^[2] The entire plant is analgesic, decoagulant, depurative, febrifuge and haemostatic, and is used internally to relieve bladder ailments, whilst it is used externally to treat burns and cuts.^[4]