Acmella uliginosa
(Sw.) Cass.
Asteraceae
Calea savannarum Standl. & Steyerm.
Ceratocephalus acmella depauperata Kuntze
Ceratocephalus acmella uliginosa (Sw.) Kuntze
Coreopsis acmella uliginosa (Sw.) K.Krause
Jaegeria uliginosa (Sw.) Spreng.
Spilanthes acmella uliginosa (Sw.) Baker
Spilanthes charitopis A.H.Moore
Spilanthes iabadicensis A.H.Moore
Spilanthes lundii DeCandolle
Spilanthes salzmannii DC.
Spilanthes uliginosa Sw.
Common Name:
Close-up of the flower and leaves
Photograph by: Vengolis
Close-up of the flower and leaves
Photograph by: Vengolis
Flowering stem
Photograph by: Wie146
General Information
Acmella uliginosa is an erect or decumbent annual to perennial herbaceous plant growing from 20 - 100cm tall[
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is sometimes sold in local markets and is occasionally cultivated for its leaves in Africa[
617- Title
- Traditional Vegetables in Benin
- Publication
-
- Author
- Achigan-Dako E. Et al
- Publisher
- Darwin Initiative; International Foundation for Science
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Issued as a PDF on the Internet, it contains basic information on over 250 species of plants used for food in Benin.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
Originally native to tropical America, it is now found in much of Africa, tropical Asia and the Pacific Islands.
Habitat
Fields, waste ground, damp locations, in fallows and semi-aquatic prairies[
617- Title
- Traditional Vegetables in Benin
- Publication
-
- Author
- Achigan-Dako E. Et al
- Publisher
- Darwin Initiative; International Foundation for Science
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Issued as a PDF on the Internet, it contains basic information on over 250 species of plants used for food in Benin.
].
Properties
| Weed Potential | Yes |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Annual/Perennial |
| Height | 0.30 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
The natural range of this species is uncertain, it probably arose in Tropical America but has long since spread from there to Africa, tropical Asia and the Pacific. It does have the potential to spread further and is classified as 'Invasive' in New Caledonia and Fiji[
].
Edible Uses
Leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable or used in making sauces[
617- Title
- Traditional Vegetables in Benin
- Publication
-
- Author
- Achigan-Dako E. Et al
- Publisher
- Darwin Initiative; International Foundation for Science
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Issued as a PDF on the Internet, it contains basic information on over 250 species of plants used for food in Benin.
]. A hot, peppery flavour[
617- Title
- Traditional Vegetables in Benin
- Publication
-
- Author
- Achigan-Dako E. Et al
- Publisher
- Darwin Initiative; International Foundation for Science
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Issued as a PDF on the Internet, it contains basic information on over 250 species of plants used for food in Benin.
]. Leaves can be harvested all year round[
617- Title
- Traditional Vegetables in Benin
- Publication
-
- Author
- Achigan-Dako E. Et al
- Publisher
- Darwin Initiative; International Foundation for Science
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Issued as a PDF on the Internet, it contains basic information on over 250 species of plants used for food in Benin.
].
Medicinal
The leaves are eaten as a food and also because they are believed to increase milk flow in lactating mothers[
617- Title
- Traditional Vegetables in Benin
- Publication
-
- Author
- Achigan-Dako E. Et al
- Publisher
- Darwin Initiative; International Foundation for Science
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Issued as a PDF on the Internet, it contains basic information on over 250 species of plants used for food in Benin.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
