Indian weed, St Paul's wort
Sigesbeckia orientalis

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb. It often has many branches. It grows about 1 m tall. The leaves have winged leaf stalks about 0.5-6 cm long. The leaf blade is D shaped or sword shaped and 3-12 cm long by 1.5-9 cm wide. It narrows into the leaf stalk at the base. The flower head is loose and 0.6-1 cm across. The flowers are yellow.

Used after boiling and washing to remove the bitter, possibly toxic element darutin. It is used in medicine. There are about 10 Siegesbeckia species.

Where it is found

It grows in warm temperate places. It grows in fields and forests between 100-2,800 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Central Asia, China, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Fiji, French Polynesia, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Norfolk Island, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Reunion, Russia, SE Asia, Slovenia, Tahiti, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Thailand, Tibet, Tonga, Vietnam, West Indies

How it is used for food

Leaves and shoots are eaten after boiling and washing to remove the bitter substance. The flowers are used to scent coconut oil.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers - flavouring

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Gawal bahalgani, Herb de Flacq, Jabung, Kadambu, Katampam, Latlatia, Lichkura, Marangkalmegh, Pilibadkadi, Senikaka, Soh-barthud-lib, Sticky weed, Umeiheiba, Yellow crown beard

Synonyms

Siegesbeckia; Sigesbeckia microcephala;