Acmella oleracea

Botanical Description

Acmella oleracea is an upright or prostrate annual to perennial plant with stems that are usually decumbent to ascending; it can grow up to 90cm tall[ 2014 Title Notes on Acmella (Asteraceae: Heliantheae) in Taiwan Publication Botanical Studies (2008) 49: 73-82 Author Chung K.F. et al Publisher Year 2008 ISBN Description ]. The plant is commonly used as a food in the tropics, and is also well known as a treatment for toothache. In addition, it contains active compounds which have been shown to have insecticidal properties. It is often cultivated as an annual for its edible leaves, especially in Brazil, and is also grown for its medicinal virtues as well as being widely cultivated as an ornamental for its attractive colourful flower heads[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. , 2014 Title Notes on Acmella (Asteraceae: Heliantheae) in Taiwan Publication Botanical Studies (2008) 49: 73-82 Author Chung K.F. et al Publisher Year 2008 ISBN Description ].