Gen info
- Rubiaceae family contains about 13,500 species and 611 genera, consisting of terrestrial trees, shrubs, lianas, and herbs, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Geophila is a small genus of the Rubiaceae family, containing about 30 species.
- Etymology: The genus name  Geophila derives from Greek ge meaning 'earth', and phileo, meaning 'to love', alluding to the creeping habit of the plant, staying close to the ground.(3) The habit and shape of the leaf blade vaguely resemble the pennywort (Centella asiatica), hence, its common name 'snake pennywort'.
- Taxonomy: Previous name of Geophila repens auct. non (L.) I.M.Johnst, was misused in Asia. The current name of Geophila herbacea (Jacq.) K. Schum. is applicable to all wild plant in Asia and cultivated plants of Asian origin. (3)

Botany
• Growth form: A creeping herb, with upright branches up to about 0.08 m tall. Foliage: Opposite, stalked leaves have leaf blades that are heart-shaped, and 1.3–3.8 cm long and wide. Flowers: White flowers are trumpet-shaped, up to 1.5 cm long, and found 1–3 together at the ends of slender stalks. Fruit: Pea-sized fruits are bright orange-red berries with narrow sepals on its tip. (Flora & Fauna Web)

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines. (1)
- In forests at low elevations.
- Also native to  Andaman Is., Angola, Assam, Bangladesh, Benin, Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Burkina, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caroline Is., Central African Republic, Chad, China South-Central, China Southeast, Comoros, Congo, Cook Is., DR Congo, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Hainan, India, Ivory Coast, Jawa, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Nicobar Is., Nigeria, Niue, Samoa, Santa Cruz Is., Sierra Leone, Society Is., Solomon Is., Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis-Futuna Is., Zimbabwe. (1)

Properties
- Studies have suggested phytoremediative, lipid-lowering properties.

Parts used
Leaves, stems, fruits.

Uses
Edibility
- No report found on edibility.
Folkloric
- No reported folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.
- Leaves and stems used for treatment of fever, cough, malaria, and other respiratory ailments. Plant used for diuretic effect and for treatment of urinary tract infections. Fruit used for treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, and other digestive problems.(5)
- In Sri Lanka, used for treatment of worm infections in children, rickets, and anemia. Externally, used on sores. (6)
- In Thailand, plant poultice applied to sore legs.
Others
- Agroforestry: Provides for an attractive ground cover. The fibrous root system helps stabilize soil, making it effective for erosion control, especially in areas prone to runoff.

Studies
• Natural Lipid-Lowering Compound: Lipid-lowering assay of ethanolic extract of Geophila herbacea isolated a new compound, 2-phenylethyl 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate. Preliminary dose-dependency verified its lipid-lowering bioactivity in vitro. (4)
• Phytoremediation / Removal of Pollutants from Refinery Waste Water / Grass Floating-Bed System: Study evaluated four species of perennial grasses including Geophila herbacea for removal of nutrients and pollutants from refinery waste water. Results showed perennial grass floating-bed system was effective in purifying refinery waste water during growing season, and the harvested perennial grass had great value as animal feeds. (7)

Availability
- Wild-crafted.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Geophila herbacea / KEW: Plants of the World Online
(2)
/ Co's Digital Flora of the Philippines
(3)
Geophila herbacea / National Parks: FLORA & FAUNA WEB
(4)
Discovery and Identification of 2-Phenylethyl 2,6-Dihydroxybenzoate as a Natural Lipid-Lowering Lead /  Yinggang Luo, Guangzhou Li, Guoyou li, Jufang Yan, Jihhai Yi, Guolin Zhang / Planta Med, 2011; 77(18): pp 2047-2049 / DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1280118
(5)
Geophila Herbacea / BOTANIKKS
(6)
Geophila herbacea / DMA Jayaweera / Medicinal Plants: Indigenous and Exotic - Used in Ceylon
(7)
PURIFICATION OF REFINERY WASTEWATER BY DIFFERENT PERENNIAL GRASSES GROWING IN A FLOATING BED  / Hong Li, Hulin Hao, Xiaoe Yang et al / Journal of Plant Nutrition, 2012; 35(1) /
DOI: 10.1080/01904167.2012.631670

DOI: It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page. (Citing and Using a (DOI) Digital Object Identifier)