Awolowo

Chromolaena odorata

India Biodiversity Portal

India Biodiversity Portal

NAME: Chromolaena odorata       

FAMILY: Compositae (Asteraceae)

COMMON NAMES: Siam weed, Christmas bush, devil weed, triffid weed.

LOCAL NAMES: Akintola ,Awolowo,Obiarakara

MORPHORLOGICAL DESCRIPTION:  

Chromolaena odorata is an erect or sprawling shrub, perennial plant with more or less woody stems.

USEFUL PART(s): Leaves,stem-twigs 

GENERAL USES:

  • Used as a green manure

  • Used for embalming dead bodies

  • The leaves can be used occasionally as an aromatic addition to soups

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION:

South-eastern USA, Mexico, Caribbean, Tropical South America

WHY IS IT GREEN?

  • Antimicrobial

  • Dysentery

  • Headache

  • Malaria fever

  • Toothache

  • Haemostatic

  • Skin diseases

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Can serve as an ornamental plant

Plant is toxic to livestock like fish when used as a green manure.

It is regarded as an environmental weed.

FUN FACT

The leaves give off a pungent, aromatic odor when crushed.

FURTHER READINGS

Chakraborty, A. K., Rambhade, S., & Patil, U. (2011). Chromolaena odorata ( L .) : An Overview. Journal of Pharmacy Research.

Kriticos, D. J., Yonow, T., & McFadyen, R. E. (2005). The potential distribution of Chromolaena odorata (Siam weed) in relation to climate. Weed Research. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3180.2005.00458.x

Kusuma, I. W., Murdiyanto, Arung, E. T., Syafrizal, & Kim, Y. (2014). Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of medicinal plants used by the Bentian tribe from Indonesia. Food Science and Human Wellness. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fshw.2014.12.004

Onkaramurthy, M., Veerapur, V. P., Thippeswamy, B. S., Madhusudana Reddy, T. N., Rayappa, H., & Badami, S. (2013). Anti-diabetic and anti-cataract effects of Chromolaena odorata Linn.; In streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2012.11.023

Vaisakh, M. N., & Pandey, A. (2012). The invasive weed with healing properties: A review on chromolaena odorata. In International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences.