Tridax procumbens
(L.) L.
Coat buttons, Tridax daisy
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What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves, Caution
The leaves are cooked and eaten, though they are only occasionally consumed.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It grows along exposed dry roadsides and in lawns. In Argentina it grows between 200-2,000 m above sea level.
Africa, American Samoa, Andaman Is., Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caribbean, Central America, Chad, China, Christmas Island, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Congo R., Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, French Guiana, Gabon, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kiribati, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marianas, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Panama, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Reunion, Rotuma, SE Asia, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad-Tobago,Tuvalu, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
How to Identify
A low growing herb. It grows 10-40 cm tall. The leaves are the shape of arrow heads and have teeth along the edge. The flowers are like daisy flowers and white or yellow. The fruit is heard and covered with hairs. These seeds can blow in the wind and spread rapidly.
How to Grow
The plant is particularly well-adapted to coarse-textured soils. A widespread weed, spreading freely by means of its creeping stems and prolific production of seeds that are dispersed by the wind. Plants can flower and produce fruit all year round.
Propagation: Seed - Division.
Medicinal Uses
Traditionally, Tridax procumbens has been in use in India for wound healing and as an anticoagulant, antifungal, and insect repellent. Animal studies have found that Tridax procumbens Linn. has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. It is also used as a treatment for boils, blisters, and cuts by local healers in parts of India.
Other Uses
The leaf juice possesses insecticidal and parasiticidal properties. Smoke produced by burning the plant is used to repel mosquitoes. The leaves are used as a hair restorative. The plant has been proposed as a cover crop, but its actual use and value are questionable.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Tridax procumbens, commonly known as coatbuttons or tridax daisy, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is best known as a widespread weed and pest plant. It is native to the tropical Americas including Mexico, but it has been introduced to tropical, subtropical, and mild temperate regions worldwide. It is listed as a noxious weed in the United States and has pest status in nine states.
Other Information
The leaves are only occasionally eaten.
Notes
It contains flavonoids. It has medicinal uses.
Names & Synonyms
Cadillo chisaca, Erva-de-touro, Hmwezok-ne-gya, Jentari, Maavina, Margaridinha, Mexican daisy
References (12)
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