If you would like to support this site, please consider Donating.
Useful Tropical Plants

Adenostemma viscosum

J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.

Asteraceae

+ Synonyms

Adenostemma dregei DC.

Adenostemma natalense DC.

Ageratum strictum Sims

Carelia stricta (Hemsl.) Kuntze

Ethulia aquatica Roxb. ex DC.

Common Name: Dung Weed

Adenostemma viscosum
Close-up of the flower
Photograph by: Robert v. Blittersdorff; African plants - A Photo Guide.
© Robert v. Blittersdorff

General Information

Dung weed is an annual, or sometimes herbaceous perennial, herb growing up to 1 metre tall[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
An important medicinal plant, especially in southeast Asia, where the plant is commonly harvested from the wild[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. The plant also provides edible leaves and a dye.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

Tropical Africa to tropical Asia, Australia and the Pacific Islands.

Habitat

Open, disturbed sites and wet places along streams, in forests, thickets, and along roadsides, at elevations from sea level to 2,100 metres[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *
Medicinal Rating *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *
HabitAnnual/Perennial
Height1.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details



The plant starts flowering 3 months after germination and flowers throughout the year when sufficient water is available[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Edible Uses

The leaves are eaten as a vegetable[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. A bitter flavour, so they are always eaten in combination with other vegetables[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Medicinal

Dung weed is widely used as a medicinal plant in southeast Asia[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. Research has confirmed the presence of several medically active compounds in the plant[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Several kaurane-type diterpenes have been isolated from the extract of fresh whole plant. Two of these terpenes have shown cytotoxic activity in vitro against L-5178Y cultured leukaemia cells[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The aqueous alcohol extract exhibited hypoglycaemic and diuretic activities[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

The whole plant is used to treat lung congestion, pneumonia, oedema and inflammation[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]

The stems and leaves are used as an antiscorbutic. The leaves are also used for treating palpitations, dysuria, toothache, aphthae and sore throats, and are also used to prevent infections after childbirth[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. The leaves are chewed in the treatment of dysentery, or combined with the leaves of Centella asiatica and Phyllanthus urinaria, are used against colic[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Externally, the crushed stems and leaves are applied as a poultice for headache, ulcerations of the nose, and on the abdomen against diarrhoea, often in association with Persicaria barbata, and the leaves of Uraria and Momordica species[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. The boiled leaves are rubbed on the skin to relieve itch and treat infected sores, and the whole body is rubbed in case of fever[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. A lotion of the leaves is used to arrest baldness, a paste of the leaves is used to poultice sun-burned skin, and, when scorched, are applied to boils and ulcers in order to ripen them[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Fresh juice of the plant is used to treat ear infections[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. Combined with the leaves of Mimusops elengi and the bark of Baccaurea motleyana, obtained by pounding these together, it is used to treat sore eyes[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

A decoction of the root is given as a cure for stomach-ache. The roots are chewed alone or together with Piper betle leaves and ginger against cough[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Other Uses

The plant is the source of a blue dye[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Adenostemma+viscosum>

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.