Asteraceae FAMILY Least Concern

Acmella uliginosa

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Acmella uliginosa is an erect or decumbent annual to perennial herbaceous plant growing from 20 - 100cm tall. The stems are erect to ascending or occasionally decumbent; they can be solitary or several grow from the base[ 305 Title Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk Publication Author Website http://www.hear.org/pier/scientificnames/index.html Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A very good website detailing weed species that have been introduced into the Pacific Islands. , 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is sometimes sold in local markets and is occasionally cultivated for its leaves in parts of Africa[ 617 Title Traditional Vegetables in Benin Publication Author Achigan-Dako E. Et al Publisher Darwin Initiative; International Foundation for Science Year 2009 ISBN Description Issued as a PDF on the Internet, it contains basic information on over 250 species of plants used for food in Benin. ]. Acmella uliginosa is a widespread species with a wide range of habitats and no known major widespread threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. Acmella uliginosa behaves as a weed in ruderal, cultivated fields, and in disturbed forests. It is a fast-growing herb and under favourable conditions plants may grow copiously. This species is listed as invasive in Micronesia, Fiji and New Caledonia. In the West Indies, although this species is considered native for some islands, it is listed as a species of concern mostly due to its weedy behaviour[ 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeOriginally native to tropical America, it is now found in much of Africa, tropical Asia and the Pacific Islands.

HabitatFields, waste ground, damp locations, in fallows and semi-aquatic prairies[ 617 Title Traditional Vegetables in Benin Publication Author Achigan-Dako E. Et al Publisher Darwin Initiative; International Foundation for Science Year 2009 ISBN Description Issued as a PDF on the Internet, it contains basic information on over 250 species of plants used for food in Benin. ]. Mainly in disturbed areas along roadsides, in cultivated fields, in marshes, streams, pastures, meadows, and in forests from sea level to 1,200 metres[ 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ].