Stachytarpheta jamaicensis

(L.) Vahl

Brazilian tea

Verbenaceae Edible: Leaves, Leaves - tea, Vegetable Potential hazards — see below 10,255 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Stachytarpheta jamaicensis is a species of plant in the family Verbenaceae, native throughout the Caribbean, including Florida. It has many common names including blue porterweed, blue snake weed, bastard vervain, Brazilian tea, Jamaica vervain, light-blue snakeweed, and, in St. Croix, worryvine.source? It usually is found along country roadsides, and it also grows well as a ruderal plant on disturbed terrain. A similar plant, Stachytarpheta cayennensis, which is an invasive species in Florida, is sometimes mistaken for S. jamaicensis. It is unclear whether S. indica is a separate species.

Description

A herb which keeps growing from year to year. The branches curve upwards. It grows to 1.5 m high. The leaves are produced opposite one another on winged stalks. The leaves are oval and 4-10 cm long. They have forward facing teeth. The flowers occur as a spike at the end of the plant. The stalk is thickened and the flowers arise from depressions in it. The flower forms a tube towards its base and is purplish-blue. This stalk thickens more and the fruit are about 3.5 mm long in the depressions. They form 2 nutlets. The inner side of each one is flat.

Edible Uses

Young stem tips are eaten as a flavouring or prepared like spinach. Dried leaves are sold as Brazilian tea.

Traditional Uses

The young stem tips are eaten as a flavouring. They are also eaten like spinach. Dried leaves are sold as Brazilian tea. CAUTION: It is claimed to cause miscarriages so should be avoided by pregnant women.

Medicinal Uses

The fresh leaves are consumed in bush tea as a "cooling" tonic and blood cleanser, to treat "asthma" and "ulcerated stomachs". Tea brewed from this species has been shown to cause a dose-dependent "fall in [the] blood pressure" of normal rabbits. However, the tea has also been observed to cause a "mild non-dose dependent systematic toxicity" in various tissues throughout the body, "such as congestion, fatty changes, and necrosis in liver, blood vessels, kidney, lung and testis, but the brain, eyes, intestines and heart were essentially normal."

Known Hazards

Claimed to cause miscarriages; should be avoided by pregnant women.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows naturally along roadsides. It needs an average to fertile, well-drained soil. It can grow in full or part sun. In Papua New Guinea it is at low altitudes but may be up to 700 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. In XTBG Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Africa, American Samoa, Anguilla, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Caribbean, Central America, China, Chuuk, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, El Salvador, Fiji, FSM, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kiribati, Laos, Lesser Antilles*, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Nauru, Nicaragua, North America, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South America, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turks & Caicos, Tuvalu, USA, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies*,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds. It can be planted as a hedge.

Other Uses

The flowers are used to make earrings. The plant is used for hedges.

Production

Leaves are usually collected during the rainy season.

Other Information

It is sold in local markets in China.

Synonyms

Abena jamaicensis (L.) Hitchc.Stachytarpheta indica C.B.Clarke in part, non Vahl.Stachytarpheta subincisa Turcz.Valerianoides jamaicensis L.Verbena jamaicensis L.Zappania jamaicensis (L.) Lam.

Also Known As

Aaron's rod, Bastard vervain, Blue porterweed, Blue snakeweed, Chirchiti, Devil's coachwhip, Edidubaiy, Gewongan, Jalajali, Jamaica false vervain, Jamaican Snake weed, Jarong, Kadu uttarani, Kandikandilaan, Kariyartharani, Katapunuthu, Kikwayakwaya, Light blue snakeweed, Marang chirchiti, Marang circiti, Medraquiloyilo, Naioringi, Ngadi-rangga, Pecut kuda, Rabo de gato, Rakimaa, Ratstail, Rumput tahi babi, Sakura, Selaseh dandi, Seta sitir kad, Simainaivirunji, Simainayuruvi, Te uti, Uttirani, Wan ling cao

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