Melanthera biflora
| Melanthera biflora | |
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| Species: | M. biflora
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| Melanthera biflora (L.) Wild.
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Melanthera biflora,[4] also known as sea daisy, beach daisy and sea ox-eye, ([Bhringaraaja] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help); Malay: Serunai laut, Pokok serunai; Fijian: Kovekove, Sekava; Maldivian: Mirihi; Samoan: Ateate; Template:Lang-th or ผักคราดทะเล;[5] Tongan: Ate), is a species of flowering plant in the aster family. It is a scandent, rough-looking and fast-growing plant with a wide distribution.
Distribution
Melanthera biflora is a moderately salt-tolerant plant found in the tropical belt of the Indo-Pacific region, including China, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Queensland, and islands of the Pacific such as Fiji, Niue, Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands.
It is found commonly in islands and in coastal areas, although it sometimes occurs inland in neglected and unmanaged plantations as well as in ruderal environments.[6]
Together with Portulaca oleracea, Ipomoea pes-caprae and Digitaria ciliaris, Melanthera biflora is usually one of the first species colonizing degraded or altered environments in tropical zones of the planet.[7]
Description
Melanthera biflora is a hardy and somewhat woody, sprawling perennial herb or subshrub. Stems are elongate and branched; they can reach up to 2 m but will bend after reaching a certain height. It can scramble and straggle over the ground or climb leaning on other plants for support. The leaves are ovate, shortly tapering at the base. It produces small yellow flower heads with a diametre of about 8–10 mm. The fruits form a dense head.[8]
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Uses
Despite the rough appearance of the plant, the leaves are edible.[9][10] In Malaysian cuisine the shoots are eaten cooked as a leaf vegetable and in Langkawi they are eaten raw with chilli and sambal shrimp paste. Leaves also have traditional medicinal uses as poultice or as decoction.[11][12]
Melanthera biflora has traditionally been used as a medicinal plant in many cultures.[13] Leaves are especially valued against stomachache.[10] In Fiji the leaves are used to treat acne.[11] Root extracts have anthelmintic properties[14] and flowers can be used as a purgative.[13]
This plant is also used as fodder for rabbits.
See also
- List of leaf vegetables
- List of vascular plants of Norfolk Island
- Flora of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Wildlife of Maldives
References
- ^ Decaisne, Joseph. 1834. Nouvelles annales du Muséum d'histoire naturelle 3: 414-415 descriptions in Latin, commentary in French
- ^ Tropicos, Wollastonia DC. ex Decne.
- ^ Flora of China Vol. 20-21 Page 871 孪花菊属 luan hua ju shu Wollastonia Candolle ex Decaisne, Nouv. Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. 3: 414. 1834.
- ^ 'Melanthera biflora' The Plant list
- ^ Mangrove forest: เบญจมาศน้ำเค็ม
- ^ Response of Melanthera biflora to Salinity and Water Stress
- ^ Heatwole, H., Done, T., Cameron, E. Community Ecology of a Coral Cay, A Study of One-Tree Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Series: Monographiae Biologicae, Vol. 43, p. 102
- ^ Melanthera biflora (L.) Wild - Atlas of Living Australia
- ^ Ecoport
- ^ a b Melanthera biflora - Useful Tropical Plants
- ^ a b Globinmed - Wedelia biflora
- ^ Rules for Maldivian Trading Ships Travelling Abroad (1925)
- ^ a b "Hagonoi / Wedelia Biflora". Philippine Medicinal Plants. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
- ^ Cheryll Williams, Medicinal Plants in Australia Volume 4: An Antipodean Apothecary, Volume 4, p. 58
External links
