Boerhavia repens
L.
Spreading hogweed
(c) David Eickhoff, some rights reserved (CC BY)
(c) Forest and Kim Starr, some rights reserved (CC BY)
(c) Forest and Kim Starr, some rights reserved (CC BY)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Seeds, Leaves, Root
The young leaves are eaten and made into curries, while the seeds are eaten as a chilled porridge. The roots are also edible.
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It grows throughout the tropics. It can grow in shade of fully exposed in waste lands. It grows in the Sahel in West Africa. It can grow in arid places.
Africa, American Samoa, Angola, Asia, Botswana, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, China, East Africa, Himalayas, India, Kiribati, Madagascar, Marquesas, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Northeastern India, North Africa, Pacific, Pakistan, Sahel, Samoa, Senegal, Southern Africa, Tuvalu, West Africa, Zimbabwe,
How to Identify
A herb. It has many branches. The branches appear each year from a thickened rhizome or underground stem. The stems are slender. They are thickened at the nodes. The leaves are in unequal pairs at each node. The leaves are 2 cm long and have glands. The flowers are in clusters or 2-6. They can be white or pink. The fruit are 3-4 mm long.
Nutrition Score: 32/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaves | 82 | 280 | 68 | 3.6 | — | — | — | — |
| Root | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Seeds | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How to Grow
Found throughout the tropics and into the subtropics, the plant is found at elevations up to 1,900 metres and is most common in areas with a distinct dry season. Grows best in a sunny position. Prefers a sandy to rocky soil in the wild. The plant can be found flowering and fruiting throughout the year, when sufficient water is available.
Medicinal Uses
Boerhavia repens is considered to have similar properties to Boerhavia diffusa, a herb that is widely used medicinally, especially in India. In Nigeria Boerhavia repens is preferred over Boerhavia diffusa and Boerhavia erecta because it is considered the most effective. All plant parts contain flavonoid glycosides and the alkaloid punarnavine. A methanol extract of the entire plant inhibited bone resorption induced by parathyroid hormone in mouse bone tissue culture; some flavonoid glycosides were isolated as active compounds. The root is applied in India especially as a diuretic, but also as a stomachic, cardiotonic, hepato-protective, laxative, anthelmintic, febrifuge, expectorant and, in higher doses, as an emetic and purgative. The roots are boiled and applied as a poultice to cure ulcers, including those resulting from Guinea worm infections, while ground roots are applied to yaws. The ground roots mixed with ground seeds of Blighia sapida are applied to the body to cure chicken pox. Decoctions of the roots and leaves are taken in moderate doses to cure asthma, and in larger doses as an emetic, diuretic and laxative and to cure leprosy and syphilis. A root decoction is taken as an aphrodisiac or to cure stomach-ache. The root sap is used as eye drops to treat filaria infection. An infusion of the whole plant is taken to cure convulsions and amenorrhoea. The Yoruba people of Nigeria give an infusion as a mild laxative and febrifuge to children. The pounded plant is applied externally against dropsy. The whole plant is pulped for poulticing sprains. An infusion of the leaves is taken as an abortifacient, oxytocic and to cure jaundice.
Other Uses
The plant forms a dense mat of growth and can spread freely. It can be used to protect the soil and form a ground cover even in the light shade of trees.
Notes
There are about 40 Boerhavia species. They are mostly in the tropics and subtropics.
Names & Synonyms
Altig, Am vasar, Anena, Babba juji, Bakhro, Beha, Behakototo, Chedul, Ghetivali, Looni booti, Lorank, Lornki, Ufi, Ufi'atuli
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