Mitracarpus hirtus
(L.) DC.
Rubiaceae
Borreria ferruginea M.Martens & Galeotti
Borreria remotifolia DC.
Diodia villosa Moc. & Sessé ex DC.
Mitracarpus pilosus A.Rich.
Mitracarpus rudis Benth.
Mitracarpus scaber Zucc. ex Schult. & Schult.f.
Mitracarpus senegalensis DC.
Mitracarpus simplex Rusby
Mitracarpus torresianus Cham. & Schltdl.
Mitracarpus verticillatus Vatke
Mitracarpus villosus (Sw.) DC.
Spermacoce cephalotes Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.
Spermacoce declinata Pav. ex DC.
Spermacoce gracilis Pohl ex DC.
Spermacoce hirta L.
Spermacoce villosa Sw.
Staurospermum verticillatum Schumach. & Thonn.
Common Name:
General Information
Mitracarpus hirtus is a generally erect, annual plant that can be simple or sometimes much branched[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
]. The relatively stout stems can be 30 - 60cm tall[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
The plant is sometimes gathered from the wild for local medicinal use.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
Range
S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, north to the Caribbean and through C. America to Mexico.
Habitat
Usually a weed in waste or cultivated ground, it is sometimes in pastures, on open banks, or in thickets[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
]. Most commonly found at lower elevations, especially on the coastal plains, but can ascend to 1,900 metres in Guatemala[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
Properties
| Weed Potential | Yes |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Annual |
| Height | 0.50 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
The plant has become naturalized as a weed in many areas of the tropics[
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The dried leaves are said to heal old ulcers rapidly[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
The plant is an antidote for arrow poison[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
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.
