Shaggy button weed
Borreria articularis

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It can be erect or lie over. The stems are woody at the base. The stems are angled and have hairs. The leaves are 2-3 cm long by about 1 cm wide. They are sword shaped. The flowers are pink, blue or violet. The fruit is a capsule 3 mm long. The seeds are brown. They are 3 mm long by 1 mm wide.

There are about 150 Borreria species. There is confusion over the name between Borreria and Spermacoce with several different authorities.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in open sandy places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, China, East Africa, Himalayas, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Nauritiusm Myanmar, Pakistan, SE Asia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The seeds are used as a substitute for coffee. The leaves are used as a famine food. They are boiled with spices or stir-fried in oil.

Edible parts

Seeds - coffee, leaves, fruit, roots - tea

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bulu lutung, Ganthi, Ganthiu, Gempur watu, Ghatuiaghass, Kertas watu, Ketumbit okar, Kharsatshankhlo, Rumput sumpu, Rumput susur

Synonyms

Borreria hispida Hook.f.; Spermacoce articularis Linn.f.; Spermacoce hispida (L.) Miq. ex Hook.;