Beach sunflower, Sea daisy
Melanthera biflora

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb or shrub. It can be 1-2 m tall. The stems are 4 angled. The leaf blades are 2-10 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. There are irregular teeth along the edge. The flower heads are about 1 cm across. The fruit are in dense heads. The nuts are 3 sided and 2-3 mm long.

It has been used in medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows from sea level to about 500 m above sea level. It is common near sea coasts.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Asia, Australia, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, China, Cook Islands, East Africa, East Timor, Fiji, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Pacific, Samoa, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste

How it is used for food

The leaves and shoots are cooked and eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, spice

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Seruni laut

Synonyms

Verbesina biflora L.; Wedelia biflora (L.) DC.; Wedelia canescens (Gaudich.) Merr.; Wollastonia biflora (L.) DC.; Wollastonia biflora var. canescens (Gaudich.) Fosberg;