Poduthalai

Poduthalai is frogfruit or lippia, a low, creeping herb that forms mats on damp ground and is planted as a hardy, low-water lawn. Its tiny flower heads look like matchstick tips. In Siddha practice poduthalai leaves are boiled in oil for dandruff and hair care. Older books call it Lippia nodiflora.

Botanical name

Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene

Family

Verbenaceae

Tamil

Poduthalai

Hindi

Jal buti

Sanskrit

Jalapippali

Parts used

Whole herb in lists

Habit

Creeping frogfruit, used as a low-water lawn

Last updated

2026-10-27

How to recognise Poduthalai

It is a mat-forming perennial with stems that creep along the ground and root at the nodes.

The leaves are small, wedge-shaped and toothed towards the tip, set in opposite pairs.

The flowers form small, round to cylindrical heads on long stalks, with tiny white to pale pink flowers in a ring.

The heads lengthen as they age, looking like a matchstick head.

It stays only a few centimetres high.

Traditional use of Poduthalai

Siddha

Poduthalai leaf is boiled in coconut or sesame oil to make a hair oil for dandruff.

Siddha and Tamil household practice

Garden

It is planted as a lawn or ground cover in dry areas because it needs little water and tolerates foot traffic.

Garden practice

Modern notes on Poduthalai

Laboratory studies report antifungal and anti-inflammatory activity in leaf extracts.

There are no good clinical trials for its hair uses.

As a lawn it can spread into neighbouring beds and is invasive in parts of Australia.

Poduthalai safety

Test any homemade oil on a small patch of skin first. Do not take it by mouth as a medicine.

Ecology and sourcing

It grows on damp ground, riverbanks and seasonal wetlands throughout the tropics and subtropics.

Its flowers are a rich nectar source for bees and small butterflies.

It tolerates flooding, drought and some salt.

Related plants

Questions about Poduthalai

What is poduthalai?

The Tamil name for frogfruit, Phyla nodiflora.

Can Poduthalai replace grass?

Yes. It is used as a low-water lawn.

Is Poduthalai used for hair?

Traditionally, as an oil for dandruff.

Does Poduthalai attract bees?

Yes. Its flowers are full of nectar.

What was the older name of Phyla nodiflora?

Lippia nodiflora.

Sources

• Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
• Wikidata item Q3273836 (Phyla nodiflora)

Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.