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.
].
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:
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 |  |
| Habit | Annual |
| Height | 0.30 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
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 -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
