Nyctaginaceae FAMILY

Boerhavia diffusa

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

4/5

Safety & Hazards

The very viscid perianth tube containing the fruit readily adheres to other objects and detaches itself from the plant. Small insects are caught by the secretion, and young chickens and turkeys sometimes die in consequence of their eyes becoming sealed up by the sticky fruits[ 459 Title The Useful Plants of the Island of Guam Publication Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 9 Author Safford W.E. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ Publisher Smithsonian Institute; Washington. Year 1905 ISBN Description A very comprehensive, if rather dated, guide to the plants of Guam. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ].

Botanical Description

Boerhavia diffusa is a herbaceous perennial plant with vigorous, many-branched stems growing from a taproot; up to 2 metres long the stems can be erect or procumbent[ 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. , 304 Title Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants Publication Author Kapoor. L. D. Publisher CRC Press, Florida. Year 2001 ISBN 0-8493-2929-9 Description A very detailed book on some of the key Ayurvedic herbs, giving both technical and non-technical information on each plant. The whole is very well referenced. , 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 stems branch mainly from the base, they are prostrate when young, becoming ascending to erect when flowering[ 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. ]. A very popular medicinal plant, especially in India, where it is widely used in Ayurveda. Medicines containing this plant are sold worldwide. The plant is gathered from the wild and is also sometimes used as food. The plant is a weed of cultivated land and wasteland, often in lawns in drier areas. The small fruits are very sticky and grow close to the ground. They can therefore attach to human clothing or to animals and birds, enabling wide dispersal of the plant. Although common, it is not a weed of importance. After mechanical cultivation the plant resprouts from its roots but relatively few cultivations are needed to exhaust it[ 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. , 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

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeThe original native range is unclear, the plant is widespread in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia, America, Australia and the Pacific Islands.

HabitatOpen places near the sea, dry and warm river valleys; at elevations from 100 - 1,900 metres in southern China[ 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. ]. Along roadsides, near habitations, in and along cultivated fields and in open cleared patches in forests[ 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). ].