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Useful Tropical Plants

Chrysanthellum indicum

DC.

Asteraceae


The entries on medicinal and edible uses detailed below are for the subspecies Chrysanthellum indicum afroamericanum B.L.Turner. There are only small differences between the species and its various subspecies, so it should be safe to assume that the uses can apply to the whole complex[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Adenocarpum tuberculatum D.Don ex Hook. & Arn.

Chrysanthellum argentinum Ariza & Cerana

Chrysanthellum argentinum Ariza Esp. & Cerana

Chrysanthellum boliviense Sch.Bip.

Chrysanthellum mexicanum Greenm.

Chrysanthellum senegalense DC.

Chrysanthellum weberbaueri I.C.Chung

Coreopsis diffusa M.E.Jones

Plagiocheilus erectus Rusby

Common Name:

Chrysanthellum indicum
Flowering plant in native habitat
Photograph by: Katharina Schumann; African plants - A Photo Guide
© Katharina Schumann

General Information

Chrysanthellum indicum is a faintly aromatic, erect, branched annual plant herb growing up to 30 cm tall[
328
Title
African Flowering Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
Publisher
Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
,
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 plant is harvested from the wild, very occasionally as a food but mainly for medicinal use. It is sometimes sold in local markets for medicinal use.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

651
Title
Phytologia Vol. 51
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harold N. Moldenke and Alma L. Moldenke; New York
Year
1982
ISBN
 
Description
Various articles on botany.

Range

S. America - Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru; widely naturalized in tropical Africa.

Habitat

Open spaces, and dry rocky places of the forest zone from Senegal to S Nigeria, at elevations up to 1,465 metres[
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 weed along paths, in gardens and disturbed areas generally[
651
Title
Phytologia Vol. 51
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harold N. Moldenke and Alma L. Moldenke; New York
Year
1982
ISBN
 
Description
Various articles on botany.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitAnnual
Height0.30 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

A plant of moderate or higher elevations in the tropics.

The plant is a weed in its native regions[
651
Title
Phytologia Vol. 51
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harold N. Moldenke and Alma L. Moldenke; New York
Year
1982
ISBN
 
Description
Various articles on botany.
].

Edible Uses

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.
]. Only used rarely, during the rainy season[
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 plant (part not stated, but presumed to be the aerial portion) is used to make a poultice for maturating boils and a medicine for treating fevers in small children[
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 plant is reported to be used for treating gonorrhoea[
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/
].
An infusion of the whole plant, without the roots, combined with Tamarindus indicus, is taken to treat hepatitis[
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 entire plant is taken to treat malaria and jaundice with urinary complications[
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/
,
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 leaves, mashed and mixed in shea butter or in any other oil, are used to treat heart-troubles[
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

The leaves are mixed with henna for tinting the nails[
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/
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Chrysanthellum+indicum>

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