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Acmella oleracea

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Acmella oleracea (L.) R.K.Jansen

Family Name: Asteraceae (Compositae)
Synonyms: Spilanthes oleracea, Spilanthes fusca
Common Name: Toothache Plant, Para Cress, Eyeball Plant, Spilanthes, Paracress, 印度金鈕扣

This plant is known as Eyeball Plant, because the yellow to orange, cone-shaped inflorescence sometimes looks like an eyeball when the tip is dark red.

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Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
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Species Summary

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 Compact
Maximum Height 30 cm to 45 cm
Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width 30 cm to 45 cm

Biogeography

Native Habitat Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal
Local Conservation Status Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only)

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form Perennial herb up to 45 cm tall.
Foliage Leaves are egg-shaped to triangular with a toothed leaf margin (5-11 cm long, 4-8 cm wide).
Stems Prostrate or erect, often reddish, hairless.
Flowers The cone-shaped, yellow to orange inflorescence sometimes has a dark red centre.
Fruit The dry, one-seeded fruit is known as an achene (2-2.5 mm long).
Ethnobotanical Uses Food (Fruit or Vegetable): In India and the Indian Ocean Islands, the leaves are steamed and taken as a vegetable. (Herb or Spice): In Brazil and India, raw leaves are added to salad, soup and meat as a spice.
Medicinal:

Traditional Medicinal Uses

The inflorescence is chewed to temporarily numb the gum, helping to alleviate toothache and gum infection pain. (Caution: A research study found that an extract prepared from the inflorescence was toxic to fish <1>. Always consult your doctor before consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.)  

It is important to note that some therapeutic effects from traditional medicinal uses of plants are not currently supported or verified by scientific research.

Landscaping Features

Landscaping It is grown as an ornamental (occasionally as a medicinal) in various parts of the world.
Desirable Plant Features Fragrant (Flowers, Foliage), Ornamental Flowers
Landscape Uses Small Gardens, Flowerbed / Border, Groundcover, Container Planting

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference Full Sun, Semi-Shade
Water Preference Moderate Water
Rootzone Tolerance Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Poor Infertile Soils, Acidic (low pH) Soils, Alkaline high pH Soils, Easy to Grow
Propagation Method Seed

Foliar

Foliage Retention Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s) Green
Foliar Type Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem Opposite
Foliar Attachment to Stem Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s) Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Deltoid)
Foliar Venation Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin Dentate
Foliar Apex - Tip Acute, Acuminate
Foliar Base Truncate / Square, Attenuate

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower Colour(s) Red, Yellow / Golden
Flower Grouping Cluster / Inflorescence
Inflorescence Type Compound Head / Capitulum

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Fruit Classification Simple Fruit
Fruit Type Indehiscent Dry Fruit , Achene

References

References

<1> Custodio de Souza, G., Dias Ribeiro da Silva, I., Duarte Viana, M., Costa de Melo, N., Sánchez-Ortiz, B.L., Maia Rebelo de Oliveira, M., Ramos Barbosa, W., Maciel Ferreira, I. & Tavares Carvalho, J.C. (2019). Acute Toxicity of the Hydroethanolic Extract of the Flowers of Acmella oleracea L. in Zebrafish (Danio rerio): Behavioral and Histopathological Studies. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 12(4): 173-189.

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Master ID 30538
Species ID 5201
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.
Species record last updated on: 21 September 2023.
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