Coat buttons, Tridax daisy
Tridax procumbens

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

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.

It contains flavonoids. It has medicinal uses.

Where it is found

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.

Countries/locations it is found in

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, 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 it is used for food

The leaves are cooked and eaten. Caution.

The leaves are only occasionally eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, caution

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cadillo chisaca, Erva-de-touro, Hmwezok-ne-gya, Jentari, Maavina, Margaridinha, Mexican daisy

Synonyms

Balbisia elongata Willd.; Chrysanthemum procumbens (L.) Sesse & Moc.; and others