The Dishwashing Plant

I have noticed that many women in the community wash their dishes using a plant they call "polush."

They use it instead of a dish sponge or scouring pad because they claim it has many benefits including:

It doesn't cost money-- the plants grow in the wild;
It doesn't accumulate bacteria because fresh leaves are used each time they wash dishes;
It is completely biodegradable and thus doesn't harm the environment;
It gives their dishes a clean and fresh scent.