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Family Fabaceae
Kaliskis-dalag
Grona triflora (L.) H.Ohashi & K.Ohashi
THREE-FLOWER TICK TREFOIL
San dian jin

Scientific names  Common names 
Aeschynomene triflora Poir. Kaliskis dalag (Tag..)
Desmodium albiflorum Cordem. Pakpak-lanagu (Tag.)
Desmodium bullamense G.Don Amor Seco (Engl.)
Desmodium granulatum (Schumach. & Thonn.) Walp. Three-flower tick trefoil (Engl.)
Desmodium stipulaceum (Burm.f.) Hassk. Creeping tickfoil (Engl.)
Desmodium triflorum (Linn.) DC. Creeping tick trefoil (Engl.)
Desmodium triflorum var. adpressum Ohwi Tick clover (Engl.)
Desmodium triflorum var. minimus Stehlé Three-flower beggarweed (Engl.)
Desmodium triflorum var. minus Wight & Arn. Tropical trefoil (Engl.)
Desmodium triflorum var. pygmaeum Hoehne  
Desmodium triflorum var. villosum Wight & Arn.  
Grona triflora (L.) H.Ohashi & K.Ohashi  
Hedysarum biflorum P.Willermet  
Hedysarum granulatum Schum. & Thonn.  
Hedysarum granuliferum Biehler  
Hedysarum stipulaceum Burm.f.  
Hedysarum triflorum L.  
Hippocrepis humilis Blanco  
Meibomia triflora (L.) Kuntze  
Meibomia triflora f. coerulescens Kuntze  
Meibomia triflora f. flavescens Kuntze  
Meibomia triflora var. glabrescens Kuntze  
Meibomia triflora var. pilosa Kuntze  
Meibomia triflora f. purpurea Kuntze  
Meibomia triflora f. violacea Kuntze  
Meibomia triflora f. virescens Kuntze  
Nicolsonia reptans Meissner  
Nicolsonia triflora (L.) Griseb.  
Onybrychis heterophylla Schrank ex Steud.  
Pleurolobus triflorus J.St.-Hil.  
Sagotia triflora (L.) Duchass. & Walp.  
Amor Seco is a named shared by (1) Andropogon aciculatus and (2) Desmodium triflorum
Desmodium triflorum (L.) DC. is a synonym of Grona triflora.
Grona triflora is an accepted species. KEW: Plants of the World Online

Other vernacular names
BENGALI: Kudaliya.
CHINESE: San dian jin cao, Ying chi cao.
CREOLES: Trefle noir, Trfle blanc, Li tref, Kad (a) vyolon, Tref ranpan, Gazon, Tref gazon, Tref kat.
FRENCH: Plata, Desmodie a trois fleurs, Desmodium a trois fleurs.
HAWAIIAN: Kudaliya, Motha.
HINDI: Kudaliya, Tipatiya, Motha.
KANNADA: Kaadu pullampurasi, Kaadu menthe.
MALAGASY: Kodiadiamborona, Tsimathatrandrivamanitra.
MALAYALAM: Munta mandu, Nilamparanta, Cherupulladi, Cherupalladi.
MARATHI: Chipti,Jungalimethi, Raan methi.
NEPALI: Bute kanike.
ORIYA: Bawngekhlo, Kansisna.
PORTUGUESE: Amor-do-campo, Carrapicho, Amorzinho seco, Trevinho de campo.
SANSKRIT: Hamsapaaadi, Tripaadi.
SINHALESE: Heen-undupiyali.
SPANISH: Acaba pangola, Alfafilla, Estacal, Hierba cuartillo, Zarzabacoa de tres flores.
TAMIL: Sirupullati, Ciru pullati, Sirupulladi.
TELUGU: Moohoodoo, Moordoo, Muntamandu.

Gen info
• Grona is a genus of the flowering plant family Fabaceae. The genus is placed in subfamily Faboideae and tribe Desmodieae. It was previously included in its relative Desmodium. The genus contains about 50 species. (22)
• Grona triflora, known as creeping tick trefoil or three-flower beggarweed, is a plant in the family Fabaceae.

Etymology: The specific epithet triflora derives from Latin, meaning "three-flowered".

Botany
• Kaliskis-daga is a slender, prostrate and branched plant, somewhat hairy herb. Stems are 10 to 30 centimeters long. Leaves are small and 3-foliate. Leaflets are oblong-elliptic to obovate and 7 to 15 millimeters long. The flowers are purplish, about 6 millimeters long, axillary, solitary or 2 to 3 together, with slender pedicels about 1 centimeter long. Pods are 5 to 12 millimeters long, with 2 to 6 joints.

Growth form: A terrestrial, annual herb that trails along the ground, often up to 50 cm long and rooting at the nodes. Foliage: Stalked, alternate, compound leaves are trifoliate, about 1 cm long. Each heartshaped leaflet is obovate in shape, leaf tip emarginate, with the centre leaflet not more than 0.6 cm long. Flowers: Reddish, pinkish to purplish bisexual flowers are borne singly or up to five on axillary inflorescenes. Fruit: Fruits are slightly curved pods that are hairy, 3-5 jointed, about 1.2-1.3 cm long. (Flora & Fauna Web)

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines.
- Found in open, grassy places, in and about towns, throughout the Philippines.

- Also native to Angola, Assam, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bismarck Archipelago, Bolivia, Borneo, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caroline Is., Cayman Is., Central African Republic, China South-Central, China Southeast, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, DR Congo, East Himalaya, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Florida, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Hainan, Haiti, Honduras, India, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jawa, Kazan-retto, Kenya, Laccadive Is., Leeward Is., Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Maldives, Mali, Maluku, Marianas, Mauritius, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, New Guinea, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panamá, Puerto Rico, Rodrigues, Réunion, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Socotra, South China Sea, Southwest Caribbean, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wallis-Futuna Is., West Himalaya, Windward Is., Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe. (15)

Constituents
- Roots considered carminative, tonic, diuretic and anti-bilious.
- Leaves considered galactagogue.

- Phytochemical screening of ethanol extract of leaves revealed alkaloids, flavonoids, reducing sugars, proteins, tannins, triterpenoids, and glycosides. (see study below) (25)

Properties
- Roots considered carminative, tonic, diuretic and anti-bilious.
- Leaves considered galactagogues.
- Studies have suggested analgesic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antihelmintic, antiulcer, anticonvulsant properties.


Parts used
Roots, bark, leaves, seeds

Uses
Edibility
- In Burma, leaves reportedly eaten as vegetable.
Folkloric
- Leaves used in children for diarrhea, dysentery, indigestion and also for convulsions.
- Leaves used as a galactagogue.
- Roots used for asthma and coughs.
- Plant infusion used as mouthwash and expectorant. Crush plant or folium poultice applied topically to wounds, boils, and general skin problems. (24)
- Leaf paste or fresh leaves used for skin eruptions, wounds and abscesses.
- Malays drink the root decoction for stomachaches.
- Paste of the bruised leaves mixed with kamala applied to indolent sores and itches.
- Plant used for fever with catarrh.

- In Haiti, tea decoction used for rheumatism.
- In India, leaves used for dysentery and diarrhea.
Fresh leaves are applied to wounds and abscesses that are healing with difficulty. Paste applied to sores an itch. Plant juice used as laxative. (10) Used in malaria and bone fracture. (17) Used by the Bhils and subtribes for high: applied as leaf paste on the forehead. (21)
Others
- Landscaping: Growing in thick clumps, it is suitable as ground cover.

Studies
Analgesic / Anti-Inflammatory:
Results of a study of the methanol extract of Desmodium triflorum on animal models of acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin test suggested that MDT possessed analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects possibly through increased glutathione reductase activities in the liver and nitric oxide level via regulation of interleukin-1beta production and level of tumor necrosis factor in inflamed tissues. (1) Ethyl acetate ad methanol extracts showed significant antinociceptive activity attributed to analgesic principles acting with the prostaglandin pathways. In carrageenan-induced paw edema assay, anti-inflammatory activity was attributed to inhibition of the enzyme cyclooxygenase leading to inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. (18)
Stachydrine / Pyrrolidine Alkaloids:
Soviet studies have shown stachydrine slows the the heart rate in frogs by 20%. Stachydrine is present in DT whose total alkaloid mixture produces antispasmodic, sympathicomimetic, CNS stimulant and curarimimetic activities. (3)
Antioxidant: Study showed D. triflorum to be a potent antioxidant medicinal plant, probably attributable to its polyphenolic compounds. Among the fractions, EA was the most active in scavenging DPPH and TEAC radicals. (4)
Anti-Ulcer: Study of anti-ulcer activity of D. triflorum leaf extracts on ethanol- and pylorus-ligation induced ulcer models in albino rats showed significant inhibition of gastric lesions, a significant reduction in free acidity and ulcer index. The hydroalcoholic extract was found to possess antiulcerogenic as well as ulcer healing properties which may be due to its antisecretory activity. (7)
Antihelmintic / Leaves and Roots: Study of leaves and roots for anthelmintic activity on adult earthworm Pheretima posthuma showed all test extracts to exhibit dose-dependent anthelmintic activity. (10)
Silver Nanoparticles / Antimicrobial: Study reports a single-step environmental friendly biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from Desmodium triflorum. The Ag nanoparticles presented good antimicrobial activity against common pathogens. (11)
Antinociceptive / Cold Water Extract: Study of cold water extract showed marked antinociceptive activity when evaluated in the hot plate test but not in the tail flick method. Activity was dose-dependent, with a rapid but short duration of action. The results was mediated by supraspinal mechanisms, possibly via alkaloids and flavanoids. (12)
Anticonvulsant / Antioxidant: Study evaluated ethanolic and aqueous extract of D. triflorum for anticonvulsant activity. Results showed anticonvulsant and antioxidant activity. The extracts were through to affect both GABA-ergic and glutaminergic systems. Possibly, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins may contribute to the anticonvulsant activity. (13) Pretreatment with aqueous extract showed significant inhibition of lipid peroxidation and increased glutathione level in mice brain tissues. Results showed D. triflorum possesses significant dose dependent anticonvulsant activity. (16) Study evaluated an ethanolic extract for anticonvulsant activity in PTZ, INH and MES animal models. Pretreatment with EEDT showed significant dose dependent anticonvulsant activity with significant inhibition of lipid peroxidation and increase of reduced glutathione level in mice brain tissue. (19)
Antibacterial: The methanolic extracts of Desmodium triflorum showed antimicrobial activity against human pathogenic test microorganisms (Bacillus pumilus, B. subtilis, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Phytochemical screening yielded steroids, terpenoids, and flavonoids. (14)
Wound Healing / Antioxidant: Study evaluated the wound healing potential of an ethanolic extract of leaves in excision wound and dead space wound models in rats. Results showed good wound healing activity in parameters of wound contraction, hydroxyproline content, and histological increase in fibroblast cells, collagen fibers, and blood vessels formation. (
20)
Antidiabetic / Antimicrobial Healing / Antioxidant: Study evaluated the bioactive components of Grona triflora, a medicinal plant with potential health benefits and application in textile finishing to enhance fabric functionality. Antidiabetic activity was analyzed using α-amylase and α-
glucosidase assays. Results showed antidiabetic properties with the ethanol extract showing better protection than other solvents. Antibacterial assessment by agar well-diffusion method showed strong to moderate activity against P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, Enterococcus, and E. coli. Study suggests potential for herbal finishing to improve aesthetic appeal of thermal knit fabrics and to enhance functional properties, moisture management, and antimicrobial activity, paving the way for innovative textile applications. (23)
Sensitivity Test Against Terrestrial Bacteria: Study evaluated three extracts (Grona triflora, Euphorbia hirta, Phyllantus niruri) against terrestrial bacterial. Results showed the inhibition zones of grass jarem herb extract (Grona triflora) (EGT) and Phyllantus niruri (EPN) extract have similar level of sensitivity when compared to ciprofloxacin and tetracycline with sensitive level ≥ 21 mm. (24)
Phytochemical screening yielded steroids, terpenoids, and flavonoids. (14)
Hypoglycemic / Leaves: Study evaluated the anti-diabetic properties of Grona triflora ethanol extract using a diabetic mice model. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal alloxan (150 mg/kg). Metformin was used as control. Phytochemical screening revealed alkaloids, flavonoids, reducing sugars, proteins, tannins, triterpenoids, and glycosides. Results showed significant (p<0.05) dose dependent percentage decreases in glucose levels in leaf-extract treated groups.
At highest tested dose of 500 mg/kbw, Grona triflora hypoglycemic activities surpassed that of metformin. (25)


Availability
- Wild-crafted. 
- Herbal products in the cybermarket. ebay / LZD

                         Abuse and Plagiarism of the Compilation on Philippine Medicinal Plants Under the Guise of Fair Use

Updated October 2025 / September 2015


PHOTOS / ILLUSTRATIONS
IMAGE SOURCE: Desmodium triflorum / Creeping tick trefoil / © Jeevan Jose / Jee & Rani Nature Photography / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Click on image or link to go to source page / Wikimedia Commons
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Desmodium triflorum flowers / © Jeevan Jose / Jee & Rani Nature Photography / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Click on image or link to go to source page / Wikipedia
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Seeds / Desmodium triflorum (L.) DC. - threeflower ticktrefoil / Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Grona triflora / Creeping Tick Trefoil - flower close-up / by 葉子 / CC0 - No rights reserved / Click on image or link to go to source page / iNaturalist
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Grona triflora / Creeping Tick Trefoil - Pods / © Douglas Goldman / CC BY-SA 4.0 International Deed / Click on image or link to go to source page / iNaturalist
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Amor-do-campo (Scientific name: Desmodium triflorum) / Forest and Kim Starr - Plants of Hawaii - Image licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License, permitting sharing and adaptation with attribution / Click on graphic to see source image. / alterVISTA

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of methanol extract from Desmodium triflorum DC in mice./ Lai SC, Peng WH, Huang SC, Ho YL, Huang TH, Lai ZR, Chang YS / Am J Chin Med. 2009;37(3):573-88.
(2)
Antibacterial Activity of Some Indian Medicinal Plants

Ethnobotanical Leaflets 12: 227-230. 2008
(3)
The Alkaloids / Arnold Brossi

(4)
Antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of Desmodium triflorum (L.) DC. / Lai SC et al / Am J Chin Med. 2010;38(2):329-42.
(5)
Trout’s Notes on the Genus Desmodium / Compiled and edited by K. Trout
(6)
Plant Threats to Pacific Ecosystems / Common names of PIER plants by language (Chinese) / PIER
(7)
Anti-ulcer activity of Desmodium triflorum leaves extract / Singh N, Jain N, Gupta P et al /
(8)
Desmodium triflorum (L.) DC. (accepted name) / Chinese names / Catalogue of Life, China
(9)
Desmodium triflorum (Acaba Pangola) / Common names / ZipcodeZoo
(10)
Preliminary Phytochemical Screening and Anthelmintic Activity of Desmodium Triflorum (L.) DC Leaf and Root Extracts / Venkateswara Rao Gavalapu*, Prabhanjan Kolli, Sanjeev Kumar Korra, Manoj Kumar Kavuri, Chandrasekhar Avagadda, Venkataramya Singam, Yernikumari Vanumu and Harish Kudirella / International Journal of Pharma Sciences, Vol. 3, No. 1 (2013): 156-158
(11)
Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Desmodium triflorum: A Novel Approach Towards Weed Utilization
/ Naheed Ahmad, Seema Sharma, V. N. Singh, S. F. Shamsi, Anjum Fatma, and B. R. Mehta / Biotechnology Research International, Volume 2011 (2011) / doi:10.4061/2011/454090
(12)
ANTINOCICEPTIVE ACTIVITY OF COLD WATER EXTRACT OF DESMODIUM TRIFLORUM IN RATS
/ Wanigasekara Daya, Jayakody Anusha Chandra, Ratnasooriya Chatura Dayendra Tissa and Weerasekera Kumudu Rupika / IRJP 2(7) 2011, 120-123
(13)
Evaluation of the anticonvulsant activity of the ethanol and aqueous extracts of Desmodium triflorum DC in mice / Bhosle, Vaibhav / Dissertation, 2011/ Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences,Karnataka,Bangalore
(14)
Phytochemical and antimicrobial screening of Desmodium triflorum (DC)
/ A.Kanakadurgavalli,G.Sudhakar, D.Pratibha,K.L.Sravanthi,Srinivasa / Rao college of Pharmacy, P.M. Palem, Visakhapatnam - 530041, India.
(15)
Desmodium triflorum (L.) DC. / Synonyms / KEW: Plants of the World Online
(16)
Anticonvulsant and antioxidant activity of aqueous leaves extract of Desmodium triflorum in mice against pentylenetetrazole and maximal electroshock induced convulsion / Vaibhav Bhosle / Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia, Vol 23, Issue 4, July–Aug 2013, Pp 692–698 / doi:10.1590/S0102-695X2013005000047
(17)
Ethnomedicnal studies for endemic diseases by the tribes of Munchingiputtu Mandal, Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh, India / S B Padal, H Ramakrishna, R Devender / Int J. Med. Arom. Plants, Vol 2, No 3, pp 453-459, Sept 2012
(18)
Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Desmodium triflorum DC / Kawshik Kumar Chowdhury, Achinto Saha, Sitesh Chandra Bachar and Joydeb Kumar Kundu / Journal of Biological Sciences 5(5):581-581, 2005.
(19)
Evaluation of anticonvulsant activity of ethanolic leaves extract of Desmodium triflorum in mice / Girish Gowda,
Kuntal Das, Vaibhav Bhosle, John Wilking Einstein, Benson Mathai / K Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia. 2012;22(3)649-656
(20)
Evaluation of Ethanolic Extract of Desmodium Gyrans DC Leaves on Wound Healing Activity in Rats / Gopalakrishnan S* and Rajameena R / Pharmaceut Anal Acta 2012, 3:7 / http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2153-2435.1000169
(21)
Plants used for the treatment of different types of fevers by Bhils and its subtribes in India / Swati Samvatsar and V B Diwanji / Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 2004; 3(1): pp. 96-100
(22)
Grona / Wikipedia
(23)
ANTI-DIABETIC AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF GRONA TRIFLORA MEDICINAL PLANT
/ A Saniya, R Divya, M Sharmila, C Prakash / Archives for Technical Sciences, 2025; 32(1): pp 176-187 / ISSN: 1840-4855 / eISSN: 2233-0046 / DOI: 10.70102/afts.2025.1732.176
(24)
Sensitivity Test of Herbal Extracts of Jarem Grass (Grona triflora), Meniran (Phyllanthus niruri), and Patikan Kebo (Euphorbia hirta) Against Terrestrial Bacteria / Lale Syifau Nufus, Andy Susbandiyah Ifada et al / IJHIS: International Journal of Health and Information System, 2024; 2(2): pp 86-91
(25)
Hypoglycemic activity of ethanol leaf extract of Grona trifloral in alloxan induced diabetic mice / Sonne Ikechukwu Mbagwu, Oraekei Daniel Ikechukwu, Loveth Chioma Onah /GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2023; 24(3): pp 28-40 / DOI: 10.30574/gscbps.2023.24.3.0347

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)

                                                            List of Understudied Philippine Medicinal Plants
                                          New plant names needed
The compilation now numbers over 1,720 medicinal plants. While I believe there are hundreds more that can be added to the collection, they are becoming more difficult to find. If you have a plant to suggest for inclusion, native or introduced, please email the info: scientific name (most helpful), local plant name (if known), any known folkloric medicinal use, and, if possible, a photo. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

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