Iresine diffusa

Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.

Juba's bush

Amaranthaceae Edible: Leaves ? 8,778 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-sa

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Iresine diffusa, or Juba's bush, is a species of plant in the family Amaranthaceae. Its form Iresine diffusa f. lindenii, formerly Iresine lindenii, is commercially available as an ornamental.

Description

A herb that grows each year from seed. It can grow 40-300 cm tall. The stems are spreading and much branched. The leaves are opposite and oval to sword shaped. They are 3-14 cm long by 1.5-7 cm wide.

Edible Uses

Leaves are used as food.

Medicinal Uses

A decoction of the plant is used to treat stomach aches and fevers. The sap is applied to the skin as a remedy for erysipelas.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant.

Where It Grows

Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Caribbean, Central America*, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Leeward Is., Mexico, Nepa, Nicaragua, North America, Northestern India,Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tanzania, Trinidad-Tobago, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,