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Useful Tropical Plants

Astraea lobata

(L.) Klotzsch

Euphorbiaceae

+ Synonyms

Astraea manihot Klotzsch

Astraea palmate Klotzsch

Astraea paulina Didr.

Astraea seemannii Klotzsch

Cnidoscolus surinamensis Miq.

Croton courtetii Beille

Croton decorsei Beille

Croton digitatus Salzm. ex Schltdl.

Croton leiocarpus Bartl.

Croton lobatus L.

Croton manihot (Klotzsch) Baill.

Croton mocinoi Radcl.-Sm. & Govaerts

Croton paulinus (Didr.) Müll.Arg.

Croton perrottetianus Baill.

Croton riparius Kunth

Croton trilobatus Forssk.

Croton trilobatus Sessé & Moc.

Croton trilobatus Willd.

Oxydectes lobata (L.) Kuntze

Oxydectes paulina (Didr.) Kuntze

Schradera scandens Willd.

Common Name:

Astraea lobata
Flowering stem
Photograph by: Alex Popovkin, Bahia, Brazil
Creative Commons License
Astraea lobata Astraea lobata Astraea lobata Astraea lobata

General Information

Astraea lobata is an erect, annual to perennial, herbaceous plant, often becoming woody at the base; it can, grow around 140 - 250cm tall[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
,
1895
Title
The tribe Crotoneae (Euphorbiaceae, Crotonoideae) in the Chapada dos Veadeiros, Goiás, Brazil
Publication
Phytotaxa 321 (1): 001-059, 2017
Author
Sodré R.C. et al
Website
https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.321.1.1
Publisher
 
Year
2017
ISBN
1179-3163
Description
 
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. In some areas the leaves are only occasionally eaten, but in other areas they are frequently eaten and even sold in local markets[
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.
]. The plant has been experimentally cultivated as a vegetable in Africa[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
].

Known Hazards

The whole plant is poisonous[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. An arrow-poison made from the plant is reputed to be the most poisonous used in west Africa. The plant is simply crushed between stones with a little water and the arrows dipped in the paste[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

Botanical References

1895
Title
The tribe Crotoneae (Euphorbiaceae, Crotonoideae) in the Chapada dos Veadeiros, Goiás, Brazil
Publication
Phytotaxa 321 (1): 001-059, 2017
Author
Sodré R.C. et al
Website
https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.321.1.1
Publisher
 
Year
2017
ISBN
1179-3163
Description
 

Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; Caribbean; C. America - Costa Rica to Belize;

Habitat

Open sandy places, often on river-banks[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. Found in cultivated and disturbed soils[
1895
Title
The tribe Crotoneae (Euphorbiaceae, Crotonoideae) in the Chapada dos Veadeiros, Goiás, Brazil
Publication
Phytotaxa 321 (1): 001-059, 2017
Author
Sodré R.C. et al
Website
https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.321.1.1
Publisher
 
Year
2017
ISBN
1179-3163
Description
 
].

Properties

Weed PotentialYes
Edibility Rating *  *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitPerennial
Height1.50 m
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details



The plant has spread from tropical America to become a widespread and often invasive weed in Africa. It has a strong tap-root and laterals, making it difficult to root out in cultivated land[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

Edible Uses

Tender young leaves - cooked[
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.
]. Extreme care should be taken, see the notes above on toxicity[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Medicinal

The leaves are strongly purgative[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. In combination with another, undetermined, plant it is used for treating whooping-cough, all spasmodic coughing, and stomatitis[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
Boiled in a little water, the leaves are used as an enema for treating gynaecological affections[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. Mixed with palm-oil, a leaf-paste is rubbed on to guinea-worm sores[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. Heated leaves are rubbed on to areas of costal and rheumatic pain[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. The leaf sap is used as eye drops to treat eye problems and unconsciousness[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

The plant has use in topical application to treat ulcers, sores, etc, and for headache[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. A decoction is reported as a children’s medicine, but the purpose is not indicated[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. It is used to assuage the pain of scorpion-stings[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

A decoction of the bark is taken by enema as a purgative[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

A decoction of the flowers or roots is used as an antispasmodic in case where there is a risk of abortion, and also to treat hiccup[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

The penis is washed with a maceration of the leafy twigs to act as an aphrodisiac[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

The principal active ingredient, found throughout the plant, is crotonic acid, probably in combination with toxic albuminoids[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
Besides the presence of phytotoxins noted above, Brazilian samples of the plant are reported to contain tertiary and quaternary alkaloids and haemolytic saponins[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

Agroforestry Uses:

On sandy river-banks it may have some value against scour and erosion[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

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

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