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Euphorbia hirta L.
| Family Name: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Synonyms: | Euphorbia pilulifera |
| Common Name: | Hairy Spurge, Ara Tanah, Asthma Weed, snake weed, 飞扬草, 脚癣草 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Maximum Height | 40 cm |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | India & most tropical countries |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Herb up to 0.3 m tall is usually erect, but sometimes almost horizontal. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Oblong, paired leaves are green with purplish tints along a toothed leaf margin. When plants grow in nutrient poor soils, the leaves turn red. |
| Stems | Red, round stems are lined with long, white hairs. |
| Flowers | The light pink, round, button-like structure that occurs between the leaf pairs is a cluster of inflorescences that resemble tiny flowers. A single inflorescence is composed of one female flower surrounded by about 4 male flowers, all of which lack petals. The flowers are surrounded by 4 round bracts which look like petals. |
| Fruit | Dry, dehiscent fruits are known as capsules. |
| Cultivation | This species is commonly found as a weed along roadsides and in gardens and waste areas. |
| Etymology | The species epithet 'hirta' is Latin for hairy and refers to the hairy stem. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Food (Herb and Spice) Medicinal: All parts of E. hirta can be used fresh or dried. It is an important medicinal herb used traditional for gastrointestinal disorders, bronchial and respiratory diseases(asthma, bronchitis, etc). The stem sap is used in the treatment of eyelid styes and a leaf poultice is used on swelling and boils. Others: The plant can grow well in almost all types of habitat but cannot grow properly in polluted area. So it can also be taken as a pollution indicator of diverse habitats. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Flowerbed / Border, Groundcover, Container Planting |
|---|---|
| Plant & Rootzone Preference or Tolerance Remarks | It can grow in almost any type of soil. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Easy to Grow |
| Diseases | The plant is a host to many fungal pathogens and host to several insect vectors which can infect nearby susceptible crops. |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting (Tip, Herbaceous) |
| Seed / Spore Germination Rate | 93% |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Glossy / Shiny |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate) |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate, Attenuate |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Purple, White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary, Terminal |
| Inflorescence Type | Cyme |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute |
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Brown |
| Mature Seed Texture(s) | Wrinkled |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Few (1-5) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 707 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5211 |
| 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. |
