Struchium sparganophorum

(L.) O. Kuntze

Water Bitterleaf

Asteraceae Edible: Leaves, Vegetable Potential hazards — see below 79 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

iNaturalist· cc-by

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc-sa

Description

An annual herb. It is somewhat succulent. It can be erect or lie over. It grows 1.3 m high. The flowers can be white or pink.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

The young leaves are used as a pot herb and vegetable.

Traditional Uses

The young leaves are used as a pot herb. Caution: The leaves contain alkaloids.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

A tea made from the whole plant is taken as a treatment for headaches, colds, wheezing, asthma and backache. The juice of the whole plant is rubbed on cuts and ulcers. The leaves are used to treat children's convulsions. The juice of the leaves is administered orally or rectally for treating thrush.

Known Hazards

The leaves contain alkaloids.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in damp places across West Africa.

Where It Grows

Africa, American Samoa, Asia, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South America, West Africa,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown by seeds.

Other Uses

The plant invades rice-paddies in Malaya and forms a useful part of the weeds turned in as green manure.

Other Information

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Synonyms

Ethulia struchium Sw.Sparganophorus vaillantii Gaertn.Sparganophorus sparganophora (L.) C. JeffreyStruchium africanum Beauverdand several others

Also Known As

Imondo, Kilifien, Muzivien, Sufein, Toloman, Yerba de faja

References (18)

Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 41
Achigan-Dako, E, et al (Eds), 2009, Catalogue of Traditional Vegetables in Benin. International Foundation for Science.
Boedecker, J., et al, 2014, Dietary contribution of Wild Edible Plants to women’s diets in the buffer zone around the Lama forest, Benin – an underutilized potential. Food Sec. 6:833–849
Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 1. Kew.
Epenhuijsen C.W. van., 1974, Growing Native vegetables in Nigeria. FAO Rome, p 90

Show all 18 references

FAO Corporate Document Repository. The Major Significance of 'Minor' Forest Products. Appendix 3
Grubben, G. J. H. and Denton, O. A. (eds), 2004, Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. p 565 (As Sparganophorus sparganophora)
Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 105
JSTOR Global Plants edible
Kays, S. J., and Dias, J. C. S., 1995, Common Names of Commercially Cultivated Vegetables of the World in 15 languages. Economic Botany, Vol. 49, No. 2, pp. 115-152
Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 186
N'Danikou, S. et al, 2010, Eliciting Local Values of Wild Edible Plants in Southern Bénin to Identify Priority Species for Conservation. Economic Botany, 20(10), 2011, pp. 1–15.
Okigbo, B.N., Vegetables in Tropical Africa, in Opena, R.T. & Kyomo, M.L., 1990, Vegetable Research and development in SADCC countries. Asian Vegetable Research and development Centre. Taiwan. p 38
Oniang’o, R., Grum, M. and Obel-Lawson, E., editors. 2008. Developing African leafy vegetables for improved nutrition. Regional workshop, 6-9 December 2005. Rural Outreach Program, Nairobi, Kenya. p 3
Revis. gen. pl. 1:366. 1891
Smith, F. I. and Eyzaquirre, P., 2007, African leafy vegetables: Their role in the World Health Organization's global Fruit and Vegetables Initiative. AJFAND, Vol. 7 No. 3
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Zeven, A. C. & de West, J. M. J., 1982, Dictionary of cultivated plants and their regions of diversity. Wageningen. p 123