Crassocephalum crepidioides

Crassocephalum crepidioides, also called ebolo, thickhead, redflower ragleaf, or fireweed, is an erect annual slightly succulent herb growing up to 180 cm tall. Its use is widespread in many tropical and subtropical regions, but is especially prominent in tropical Africa. Its fleshy, mucilaginous leaves and stems are eaten as a vegetable, and many parts of the plant have medical uses. However, the safety of internal use needs further research due to the presence of plant toxins.

Description

A herb. An upright, annual plant about 1 m tall. The stem is thick and soft. The leaves are alternate and 16-18 cm long. The leaves have lobes, and have teeth around the edge. Sometimes the young leaves have a purple edge. The leaves often droop. A flower is yellow and reddish, and develops at the top, bending over at first, then becoming upright. Fluffy seed heads develop after flowering. The fruit is dark brown, with long, silky hairs at the end. The seeds blow in the wind.

Edible Uses

A commercially cultivated vegetable. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and have a distinctive pine-like flavour; they are fleshy and somewhat mucilaginous with a nutty quality. The tender leaves and stems are used in soups and stews, especially across West and Central Africa, where the flavour is appreciated for being sharp but not bitter. The plant is particularly popular in south-western Nigeria, where leaves are lightly blanched, drained of excess water, then cooked with peppers, onions, tomatoes, melon, and sometimes fish or meat. In Sierra Leone the leaves are made into a sauce with groundnut paste. In Australia the plant is eaten as a salad green, raw or cooked. The roots are eaten with chilli sauce in Thailand.

Traditional Uses

The young leaves are eaten cooked as a vegetable. They have a sharp but not bitter taste. They are often eaten mixed with other foods. The leaves are blanched if used in salads. The flowers can be steamed and eaten. The leaves have a smell which does not disappear with cooking. The roots are eaten with chilli sauce or cooked in fish curry. They are also stir-fried. Caution: It contains some alkaloids that are possible toxic. It should possibly not be eaten by pregnant women.

Medicinal Uses

The leaves are used to treat indigestion, and the leaf sap is given for upset stomach. A leaf lotion or decoction is used to treat headaches. A mixture of the leaf sap combined with Cymbopogon giganteus is used both orally and externally for the treatment of epilepsy. The leaf sap applied externally is used for fresh wounds. Dried leaf powder is applied as a snuff to stop nosebleeds and smoked to treat sleeping sickness. Tannin from the roots is used to treat swollen lips.

Known Hazards

Crassocephalum crepidioides contains the hepatotoxic and tumorigenic pyrrolizidine alkaloid, jacobine. However, in another study, it is shown that the antitumor activity and macrophage nitric oxide produce action.

Distribution

A tropical plant. A common weed in Papua New Guinea from sea level to over 2500 m. It is more common in wet areas and in garden sites. It also grows in many other tropical countries. It prefers light shade. At ECHO. In Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Where It Grows

Africa, American Samoa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Benin, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, China, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, FSM, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Pohnpei, Rotuma, Sahel, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tibet, Timor-Leste, Thailand, Tonga, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis & Futuna, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

It grows from seed. It is self sown. Seedlings appear in about 9 days and can be transplanted when 8-12 cm high. A spacing of 25 cm by 25 cm is suitable. Plants are topped when 20 cm high to increase branching. To collect seed, the entire bundle is pulled from the receptacle with one hand, and the hairs removed with the other hand, without letting them mix with the seed.

Propagation

Propagated by seed and cuttings.

Other Uses

The plant has been used successfully as a trap plant to collect adult corm weevils in banana plantations. It is also used as fodder and animal feed.

Production

The first leaf harvest can be made in 6-7 weeks. There can be 5-9 harvests over a 60 day period. Seed can be collected for sowing about 16 weeks after sowing.

Other Information

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. It is used as a wild and cultivated vegetable in Australia, Vietnam, and West Africa. Leaves are sold in local markets.

Notes

There are about 25-30 Crassocephalum species. C. crepidioides contains the hepatotoxic and tumorigenic pyrrolizidine alkaloid, jacobine.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Agologolo, A ngung, Anikale jhar, Bab cherdik, Benibanaborogiku, Buar, Chopogon, Dong ma gun, Doyan-doyan, Ebolo, Ekinami, Fau lele, Fireweed, Ga la xing, Gbolo, Gbuluh fuka, Guan dong weu niu, Gyal-pa-ehn, Hogegain, Ibel, Impingi, Ingiri, Kagiji, Limbiti, Lisahuka, Marakapon, Miao kuo, Ming guo cao, Nroj rog, Nya heu bin, O mi o sa, Pakcho, Pan-sout-htoe, Phak kaad chang, Phakkoat chaang, Rau tau bay, Redflower ragleaf, Sandeko, Sapsapon, Sipinis, Sla ialieh, Spinat, Tamkahru, Tera paibi, Thangbang, Udu daya, Voi ngoai, Wondally, Ya ge la, Yamen, Yaxiehuo

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