Asteraceae FAMILY

Stevia rebaudiana

Edibility

4/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Stevia rebaudiana is a slender, erect, perennial plant growing around 1 metre tall. The plant has a vigorous rhizome and shallow root system[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. The plant is often cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas for its sweet-flavoured edible leaves from which a sweetener can be extracted[ K Title Plants for a Future Author Ken Fern Description Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips. ]. The plant also has medicinal uses and is an ingredient of commercial cosmetic preparations.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeS. America - southern Brazil, Paraguay.

HabitatThe edges of marshes and grassland communities at elevations up to 700 metres[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. Infertile, sandy acid soils with shallow water tables.