Gen info
- Cyperaceae is a family of graminoid (grass-like), monocotyledonous flowering plants known as sedges. The family contains around 5,500 species in about 90 genera, the largest with over 2,00 species are the "true sedges" or Carex. (10)
- Mapania is a genus of plants in the family Cyperaceae, containing around 100 species.
- Etymology: The genus name Mapania is of uncertain indigenous origin. The specific epithet cuspidata derives from Latin cuspidatus, meaning "sharp-pointed," "cusped," or "with a point/prick". referring to to the plant's leaf apices or bracts, which terminate in a stiff, distinct point or cusp.

Botany
• Malalubigan is a plant with short rhizomes, obliquely descending, and passing upwards into a short stem terminated by a crown of densely equitant leaves. Leaves are 30 to 90 centimeters long, 2.5 to 4 centimeters wide. Scapes are axillary in the lower leaves, 5 to 12 centimeters long, clothed by scales at the base. Inflorescences, when young, are oblong, and when mature, ovoid.

• Rhizomatous. Culms lateral, 1.5–29 cm by 0.7–3 mm, terete: cataphylls ovate to lanceolate, 0.4–5 cm by 2–5 mm, acute to obtuse. Leaves basal; blade ± oblong. 16–100 cm by 35–65 mm, apex and base abruptly narrowed, 3-nerved, margins entire to scabrid near apex, young leaves salmon pink to pinkish red on underside; pseudopetiole 9.5–39 cm long; sheath broadly ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 4.5–15 cm long, green, reddish or reddish brown. Involucral bracts glume-like, ovate, 0.6–1.4 cm long. Inflorescence comprising 1(–3) spikes. Spikes elliptic to half-globose, 1.5–4 by 0.5–2.5 cm, mid-brown. Spicoid bracts ovate to lanceolate-ovate, 7.2–12 by 4.5–5.5 mm. apex obtuse. Spicoids ± equaling or slightly longer than spicoid bracts. Floral bracts 6, lowest 2 bracts linear. 7.6–11.5 mm long, keel moderately hispid. Nutlets ellipsoid to obovoid-ellipsoid, 4–7.6 by 2.5–4 mm, succulent, ± smooth, lateral costae/furrows.
(e-Flora of Thailand)

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines.
- In damp primary forests at low and medium altitudes throughout the Philippines.
- Also native to Andaman Is., Borneo, Malaya, Maluku, New Guinea, Nicobar Is., Sulawesi, Sumatera, Thailand. (4)

Constituents
- In a study of five different Mapania species, ten group flavonoid compounds were identified viz. 5-deoxyisoflavones, isoflavones, chalcone, flavanones, anthocyanins, flavone glycoside, flavones, flavonols, glycosylflavones and aurones. (see study below) (5)

Properties
- Antidiarrheal, febrifuge.
- Study suggested antibacterial property.

Parts used
Leaves, roots.

Uses
Edibility
- Conflicting information on edibility.
- Caution: While reportedly used as tonic and antidote, it is also reported as poisonous.
Folkloric
- Leaves used as a remedy for fever.
- In Malaysia, used for fever; also, as tonic and antidote. (1) Used for dysentery. (6)
- Used for dysentery. (2)
- In Malaysia, root decoction used for treatment after childbirth; leaves used to treat diarrhea. (3)
- In Indonesia, used for treatment of heartache. (8)
- In Sarawak, leaves and roots are burned, mixed with coconut oil, and used for treatment of poisonous caterpillar stings. (9)

Studies
• Antibacterial: Study evaluated the leaves and rhizomes of five different Mapania species. M. cuspidata var petiolata showed the highest inhibition zone (1.4 cm) among all the species with MIC of 0.125 mg/ml in both E. coli 0157:H7 and B. cereus ATTC 33019. The leaves showed higher inhibition than the rhizomes. (5)

Availability
Wild-crafted.

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