Mussenda is a common
indigenous shrub of about 2m tall, grows in secondary forests, roadsides and forests
edges in both dry and wet zone from sea level to about 4000ft altitude. White
leaves of this plant are edible and fried and eaten like ‘papadam’. All most all parts of this plant have
medicinal values. Congee made from all the parts of the plant are used to treat
hepatitis while roots used for white leprosy and flowers for asthma, fever and
dropsy. Leaves and flowers are also used to remove inflammations and as a
detergent for ulcers (Medicinal plants used in Ceylon Part 4 – Jayaweera).
