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Ara Songsang or Asystasia, and some called it as the Chinese Violet, is a kind of plant most commonly found along jungle edges.  It is also called ‘Rumput Israel’ and if left growing wild will cover crops and difficult to get rid off, except being sprayed with weed killers that often encroach into the soil and remain active for weeks.  Diuron is one example of solution used for this purpose.

The leaves are thin like those of spinach, whitish with hint of purple.  The branch is soft and black in colour and often watery.  It is a creeping plant and would overpower the plants surrounding it.

Farmers however would often plant them in rows between young growths of rubber and palm oil to hinder the growth of other plants such as grass and wild plants.

The flowers are white, normally blooming out of the stem upwards to the air and do not produce any scent.

It is strongly proven to have good qualities in solving urination problem.  For this purpose the roots and flowers of the plant are collected and boiled to boiling temperature until the volume remains one third, sifted and drank when it is lukewarm.

The leaves of the plant when pounded can also be used to cover wounds.  Another popular use of the leaves is to ease the effect of rheumatism and muscle pull by.  The leaves are pounded and mixed with red onions and pasted on the affected area.