Asthma plant
Euphorbia hirta

Family: Euphorbiaceae

What it is like

A herb. It can grow as an annual or keep growing from year to year. It grows to 15-60 cm high and spreads to 15 cm wide. The stems lie over and are dull reddish green and hairy. The leaves occur opposite one another and are 5 cm long. The are broadly oblong and with fine teeth long the edge. The flowers are small and occur in the axils of leaves. They are separately male and female and gathered into groups. The fruit are hairy and 3-celled. They are about 1.2 mm across. They are an irregular shaped with ridges across them.

Plants have been used to treat bronchitis and asthma. The tips have also been eaten to treat diarrhoea. Plants often are self sown in cultivated land. There are about 2000 Euphorbia species. Most Euphorbias have sap which irritates the skin. It is high in proVitamin A.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It will grow on most soils. It prefers an open sunny position. It is damaged by drought and frost. In Papua New Guinea it grows from near sea level to about 2,000 m altitude. In Argentina it grows below 800 m above sea level. In Northeastern India it grows between 1,200-1,600 m above sea level. It grows in wetlands. It can grow in arid places. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bermuda, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central America, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Chuuk, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial-Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, FSM, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kiribati, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marquesas, Mauritius, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, North Africa, Northeastern India, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru Philippines, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Rwanda, Sahel, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Socotra, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South America, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Pan tropical, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Caution: All Euphorbias or spurges have irritating sap and many have chemicals that can cause cancer. The tender leaves and shoots are cooked as a vegetable. They should only be eaten in small quantities. They are also used to make a drink. The fruit are eaten raw. The flowers are eaten raw as a sweet. The young leaves can be stored for 3-4 days after harvesting.

They are sold in markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, flowers, vegetable, tea

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Aankle jhar, Aidinono, Amampatchaiarisi, Ammanpacharisi, Barokheruie, Bidarie, Choti dudhli, Co sua, Da ru cao, Dhudia, Dudhe ghans, Dudejhar, Dudali, Dudeleka, Dudeli, Dudhe jhar, Dudhi, Dudhia, Gakhiroti bon, Karisilanganni, Kiawa-ame, Kikula ntedi, Kiruthona, Kula ntese, Mothidudhi, Midum-an, Namaito, Nashrai khoro, Nasraikoro, Nayeti, Nelapalai, Ngotoindika, Nyama-toka, Pakhangba leiton, Palcheera, Reddinanabrolu, Reddivaari nanabaalu, Tamu ao, Taquelpolhe, Toto taane, Washah, Yowan

Synonyms

Chamaesyce hirta (L.) Millspaugh; Chamaesyce rosei Millsp.; Euphorbia pilulifera auct. non L.; and several others