(Redirected from Wedelia biflora)
Melanthera biflora
(L.) Wild
Asteraceae
Anthemiopsis macrophylla Boj. ex DC.
Verbesina biflora L.
Wedelia biflora (L.) DC.
Wedelia canescens (Gaudich.) Merr.
Wollastonia biflora (L.) DC.
Wollastonia zanzibarensis DC.
Common Name:
General Information
Melanthera biflora is a coarse-growing perennial plant with stems that can become woody, at least at the base. The branching stems, which are usually 1 - 3 metres long but can reach 6 metres, can scramble over the ground or grow into other plants for support[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
490- Title
- Flora Vitiensis Nova
- Publication
-
- Author
- Smith. A.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden; Hawaii
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A comprehensive flora of Fiji, often showing plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
58- Title
- Flora of Japan. (English translation)
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ohwi. G.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution
- Year
- 1965
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
,
490- Title
- Flora Vitiensis Nova
- Publication
-
- Author
- Smith. A.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden; Hawaii
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A comprehensive flora of Fiji, often showing plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
East tropical Africa - Kenya to Mozambique; subtropical and tropical Asia - from India and China to Malaysia, Indonesia; Australia and Pacific Islands
Habitat
Near seashores in Japan[
58- Title
- Flora of Japan. (English translation)
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ohwi. G.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution
- Year
- 1965
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
]. Along coasts, on edges of mangrove swamps, in thickets and waste places, and on grassy hills and the edges of forest at elevations from sea level to about 450 metres[
490- Title
- Flora Vitiensis Nova
- Publication
-
- Author
- Smith. A.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden; Hawaii
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A comprehensive flora of Fiji, often showing plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Properties
Edibility Rating | |
Medicinal Rating | |
Habit | Perennial |
Height | 2.00 m |
Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Plants can flower and produce fruit all year round[
481- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-92-9061-249-0
- Description
- Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on modern research into the plants.
].
Edible Uses
The leaves are used for wrapping food, imparting a flavour when the food is baked[
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.
]. They are stuffed with grated coconut, rolled and then boiled or steamed[
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.
].
A tea is made from the leaves and roots[
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
The plant is used extensively for medicinal purposes in Papua New Guinea where it is employed to treat a wide range of complaints[
481- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-92-9061-249-0
- Description
- Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on modern research into the plants.
].
The leaves are diuretic and vulnerary[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
360- Title
- Philippine Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
]. They have various medicinal uses, but are particularly valued for the relief of stomach pains[
490- Title
- Flora Vitiensis Nova
- Publication
-
- Author
- Smith. A.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden; Hawaii
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A comprehensive flora of Fiji, often showing plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The juice of fresh leaves, crushed and mixed with lime and seawater, is drunk as a remedy for malaria[
481- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-92-9061-249-0
- Description
- Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on modern research into the plants.
]. An infusion of the leaves is used in the treatment of bad coughs and malaria[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. An infusion of the stems or leaves is taken to treat stomach aches, dysentery and diarrhoea[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
481- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-92-9061-249-0
- Description
- Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on modern research into the plants.
]. Combined with ginger (Zingiber officinale), it is used to treat flatulence[
360- Title
- Philippine Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
].
The juice of fresh leaves is inhaled as a treatment for headaches[
481- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-92-9061-249-0
- Description
- Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on modern research into the plants.
]. The crushed leaves are rubbed on the forehead to relieve headache[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
481- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-92-9061-249-0
- Description
- Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on modern research into the plants.
].
The sap of the leaves is applied topically to treat sores, bleeding cuts, wounds etc[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
481- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-92-9061-249-0
- Description
- Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on modern research into the plants.
]. It is used to cleanse and dress ulcers[
360- Title
- Philippine Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
].
The stem is crushed with water and used as a treatment for diarrhoea and sore throats with coughing[
481- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-92-9061-249-0
- Description
- Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on modern research into the plants.
]. It is gently heated on a fire and then chewed to relieve toothache and gum inflammation[
481- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-92-9061-249-0
- Description
- Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on modern research into the plants.
].
The young stem is made into a poultice to treat abscesses, boils, infected sores etc[
481- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-92-9061-249-0
- Description
- Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on modern research into the plants.
].
The roots are slightly purgative and stomachic[
360- Title
- Philippine Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
]. The fresh roots are chewed to relieve a toothache[
481- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-92-9061-249-0
- Description
- Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on modern research into the plants.
].
The flowers are a violent purgative[
360- Title
- Philippine Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.