Erechtites valerianifolius
(Link ex Spreng.) DC.
Asteraceae
Cacalia prenanthoides Kunth
Cuatrecasanthus jelskii (Hieron.) H.Rob.
Erechtites prenanthoides (Kunth) Greenm. & Hieron.
Eremanthus jelskii Hieron.
Senecio valerianifolius Link ex Spreng.
Senecio valerianifolius Wolf
Common Name: Brazilian Fireweed
General Information
Brazilian fireweed is a stout, erect annual or short-lived perennial plant growing 1 - 2 metres 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 flowering stems are sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food.
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 - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama to Mexico; eastern Caribbean.
Habitat
Moist or wet thickets, pine-oak forest, or often as a weed in coffee plantations, at elevations from 1,200 - 2,500 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 |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Annual/Perennial |
| Height | 1.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A native of tropical America, it is now widespread as a weed from Mexico to Argentina, it is also adventive as an aggressive weed in tropical Asia, the Pacific Islands, and northern Australia[
457- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 62
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 1975
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent botanical publication, available for download from the Internet. This volume contains the Asclepiadaceae section of the Flora of Panama.
].
Edible Uses
Flowering tops - raw, or steamed and served with rice[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
Medicinal
None known
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.
