Bristly star-bur
Acanthospermum hispidum
Family: Asteraceae
What it is like
A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.
It has become an aggressive weed in some places. It has antibacterial properties.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in flooded rice fields and other disturbed areas. In Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Australia, America, Argentina, Asia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Caribbean, Central Africa, China, Congo DR, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hawaii, India, Marquesas, Mozambique, Pacific, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South America (country/location of origin), Suriname, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The sap from the leaves is squeezed out are used in sauces and as a spice and in flavourings. Caution: It can probably induce abortions.
Edible parts
Leaf sap, caution
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Are-saque, Berentam-o, Bouli oli, Buchigado, Bule-n-baba, Madiata nzau, Manguera-gore, Misquito, Nhara-sequedo, Nhara-sequem, Nhareseque, Nhari-seque, Singuir, Umbaba, Um-nhare-saque