Sticky daisy
Adenostemma lavenia

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows 1 m high. The leaves are simple and 2-20 cm long by 1-13 cm wide. The leaves get smaller from the base upwards. The leaf stalks are 1-6 cm long. The flowering stalk has a panicle of heads. The flower heads are 3-7 mm across. They are white. The fruit is a nut. It is black and 2-4 mm long and 1 mm wide.

It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows throughout the tropics. It grows in waste places. It suits wetlands.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Niue, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, West Africa

How it is used for food

It is eaten in Bali as a vegetable but because it is bitter it is only used in mixtures.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bababian, Daun tempel daging, Rumput pasir, Sembong gajah, Sin-bizat-gyi

Synonyms

Adenostemma viscosum Forst.; Verbesina lavenia;