Asteraceae FAMILY

Launaea sarmentosa

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Launaea sarmentosa is a creeping, herbaceous, perennial plant producing several branched stems 20 - 90cm tall. The plant grows from a taproot with a trailing shoot bearing lateral roots, with new stems arising from the lateral roots[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, often as a substitute for the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeCoastal areas from Africa, through the Indian Ocean and Asia to western Australia.

HabitatOpen, sandy coastal areas just above high tide mark[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ].