Common Name: Snakewort

General Information

Dorstenia contrajerva is a low-growing, evergreen perennial plant with a creeping rhizome, leaves up to 20cm long on stems up to 25cm long[].
The root is often gathered from the wild and used medicinally. The plant is also abundantly cultivated for its medicinal uses in Indonesia and Malaysia, and locally in Africa and South America[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Northern S. America - Peru, north through central America to Mexico and the Caribbean.

Habitat

Moist forest or thickets, ascending from sea level to about 1,800 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a moist, humus-rich, fertile soil[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant is well known in Central America because of its use in domestic medicine[]. The name 'contrahierba,' employed by Linnaeus as the specific name of this widespread species, is normally used in Spanish to designate plants of supposed outstanding value as counteragents for poisons[].
The root contains an antidote to snake venom, and is also used as a febrifuge[]. The plant is a common household remedy for dysentery and is also employed in treating bites of poisonous animals of all kinds[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants can be used as groundcover in shady positions[].

Other Uses

In North and Central America, a powder of the rootstocks and leaves are mixed with tobacco for improving the taste of cigarettes[, ].

Propagation

Seed - germinates well at a temperature of 16 - 21°c[].
Division.
Cuttings

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