Microstachys corniculata

(Vahl) Griseb.

Euphorbiaceae

The genus Microstachys is not universally accepted. We are following the treatment in works such as the 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families' and 'Euphorbiaceae of Malesia'[

327

Title: Euphorbiaceae of Malesia
Publication
Author
Website: http://www.nationaalherbarium.nl/euphorbs/
Publisher
Year: 0
ISBN
Description: An online resource that is still being developed, it gives detailed botanical descriptions of plants in the family Euphorbiaceae found growing in Malesia (the region from Peninsual Malaysia through Indonesia, the Philippines).

], which accept the genus as distinct; some other works however, such as the 'African Plants Database'[

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.

], treat this genus as part of the genus Sebastiania, which would make this species Sebastiania corniculata (Vahl) Müll.Arg.[

Title: Plants for a Future
Author: Ken Fern
Description: Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

+ Synonyms

Cnemidostachys acalyphoides Mart.

Cnemidostachys campestris Mart. ex Baill.

Cnemidostachys dubia Wawra

Cnemidostachys longifolia Mart.

Cnemidostachys pahlii Spreng.

Cnemidostachys patula Mart.

Cnemidostachys prostrata Mart.

Cnemidostachys salicifolia Mart.

Cnemidostachys sellowiana Klotzsch ex Baill.

Cnemidostachys tragioides Mart.

Cnemidostachys velutina Klotzsch ex Baill.

Microstachys bicornis A.Juss.

Microstachys crotonoides Klotzsch ex Benth.

Microstachys fruticulosa H.Karst.

Microstachys guianensis Klotzsch

Microstachys micrantha Benth.

Microstachys polymorpha Müll.Arg.

Microstachys vahlii A.Rich.

Sebastiania corniculata (Vahl) Müll.Arg.

Sebastiania glandulosa Pax

Sebastiania hispida patula (Mart.) Pax

Sebastiania mexicana Brandegee

Sebastiania micrantha (Benth.) Lanj.

Sebastiania salicifolia (Mart.) Pax

Stillingia campestris Baill.

Stillingia corniculata (Vahl) Baill.

Stillingia prostrata (Mart.) Baill.

Stillingia sellowiana Baill.

Stillingia velutina Baill.

Tragia bicornis Vahl ex A.Juss.

Tragia corniculata Vahl

Tragia pilosa Vell.

Tragiopsis fruticulosa H.Karst.

Common Name:

Seed capsule broken open to reveal the seed
Photograph by: Alex Popovkin, Bahia, Brazil

General Information

Microstachys corniculata is a few to many branched, erect annual plant, sometimes forming clumps, growing from 15 - 60cm tall[

369

Title: Flora of Costa Rica
Publication
Author: Standley P.C.
Website: http://www.archive.org/
Publisher: Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago
Year: 1938
ISBN
Description: Rather dated, but an excellent treatment of the area. Available for download from the internet.

].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

369

Title: Flora of Costa Rica
Publication
Author: Standley P.C.
Website: http://www.archive.org/
Publisher: Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago
Year: 1938
ISBN
Description: Rather dated, but an excellent treatment of the area. Available for download from the internet.

Range

S. America - Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Columbia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama to Mexico; Caribbean - Cuba to Trinidad.

Habitat

Weedy plants of open sunny sites in lowland evergreen or partly deciduous areas[

369

Title: Flora of Costa Rica
Publication
Author: Standley P.C.
Website: http://www.archive.org/
Publisher: Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago
Year: 1938
ISBN
Description: Rather dated, but an excellent treatment of the area. Available for download from the internet.

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.40 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The whole plant is used in the treatment of headaches, heart problems, sores, thrush, wounds and cuts[

348

Title: Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
Author: DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website: http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher: Smithsonian Museum
Year: 0
ISBN
Description: A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-04-24. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Microstachys+corniculata>

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