This is a little known medicinal plant that is documented to be effective in curing some ailments. It usually becomes invasive and spreads over a wide area if not properly managed. The roots ( which extends several inches vertically downwards) resembles Ginseng thus giving it the nickname (土人参).
There is a large colony of this plant growing on the slope next to blk 4 which is where the pictures were taken from.
The roots can be boiled into a tea or cooked together with chicken to make chicken soup, but the soup may taste a bit bitter. It is not recommended to be consumed in large quantities due to the presence of certain potent medicinal chemicals.
Below is an extract from Wikipedia:
"Different parts of the plant are used in traditional medicine of India as an astringent agent, cardiac tonic, and diuretic, and is used for eczema, rheumatism, fever, and bladder stones. E. scaber modulates inflammatory responses by inhibiting the production of TNFα and IL-1β."
Below is an extract from Sina Web in mandarin:
有凉血清热，利水解毒的功效，可以治疗鼻衄、黄疸、淋病、脚气、水肿，用药禁忌是体虚者忌之，寒症勿用地胆头，孕妇慎用地胆头。
The plant usually hugs the ground closely and produce a long flower spike with small purple flowers at its apex.
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