Back
Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni
| Family Name: | Asteraceae (Compositae) |
| Synonyms: | Eupatorium rebaudianum |
| Common Name: | Candy Leaf, Sugar Leaf, Sweet Herb of Paraguay, Sweet Honey Leaf, Stevia, 甜菊, 甜叶菊 |
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Shrubby |
| Maximum Height | 0.5 m to 1 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 0.6 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Brazil, Paraguay |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Grassland / Savannah/ Scrubland) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Herbaceous plant, up to 1m height under cultivation. Perennial in tropical and sub-tropical climates but usually grown as annual in cooler climates. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves oval to elliptical with slightly serrated margins, edible raw and sweet-tasting; in raw form, reported to be 25 - 30 times sweeter than table sugar (sucrose), source of stevioside and rebaudioside compounds used in food and pharmaceutical industries. |
| Flowers | Flowers white, small and insignificant, produced in clusters of 2 -6 florets; plant is free-flowering, short days promote blooming. |
| Fruit | Fruits are 1-seeded bristly achenes. |
| Cultivation | Suitable for herb gardens and containers. Plant tends to produce more flowers and seeds when grown in full sun, and bigger leaves in semi-shade. Prefers moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soils (pH 6.1 - 6.5). Tolerates infertile sandy soils. Avoid excessive use of nitrogen-rich fertilizer which tends to produce large leaves with little flavour. Leaves have higher sugar content if harvested in the morning and before onset of flowering.Best propagated by stem cuttings which root easily. Use fresh seeds (less than 1 month after collection). Black seeds reported to germinate better than the smaller tan-coloured seeds, which are thought to be non-viable and produced without fertllization. |
| Etymology | Genus epithet 'Stevia' named after 16th century Spanish botanist and physician Pedro Jaime Esteve. Species epithet 'rebaundiana' named after 19th century Paraguayan chemist Oviodio Rebaudi who first isolated and extracted the sweet compounds from the plant. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Leaves Food (Herb or Spice): Fresh or dried leaves used in salads, sauces and beverages, or infused in boiling water to make sweet herbal tea. Fresh leaves can also be cooked and eaten as vegetable. Leaves traditionally used by indigenous South American tribes for hundreds of years to sweeten bitter medicinal drinks and tea. Nowdays, commercially cultivated for the leaves which are used as artificial zero-calorie sweetener for food and beverages in many parts of the world. Medicinal: Used medicinally to treat diabetes, obesity, hypertension, fatigue, sores and infections, as well as improve digestion. Also used as a skin care product to clear blemishes, tighten skin and reduce wrinkles. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Container Planting, General |
|---|---|
| Thematic Landscaping | Economic Garden, Naturalistic Garden |
| Plant & Rootzone Preference or Tolerance Remarks | Grows best in slightly acidic soils of pH of 6.1 to 6.5. |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Abiotic (Self-Pollinated), Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Bee)) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast to Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils, Poor Infertile Soils, Acidic (low pH) Soils, Easy to Grow |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Pruning | Prune regularly to obtain bushier and more leafy plant. |
| Diseases | Whiteflies and leafhoppers may attack leaves. |
| Pest(s) | Associated with, Sucking Insects |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting |
| Propagule Establishment Remarks | Use fresh seeds (less than 1 month after collection) for germination. Select the bigger black seeds, as opposed to the non-viable tan-coloured seeds. Stem cuttings root easily. |
| Planting Distance | 0 to 0 |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Papery, Thin |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Obovate, Oval, Elliptical) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
| Typical Foliar Area | Microphyll ( 2.25cm2 - 20.25 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Herbaceous |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White, White |
|---|---|
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Individual Flower Shape | Stellate / Star-shaped |
| Inflorescence Type | Corymb |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Indehiscent Dry Fruit , Achene |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1184 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2477 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |