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Emilia sonchifolia - (L.)DC.

Common Name Cupid's Shaving Brush, Lilac tasselflower
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 8-11
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Waste ground in C. and S. Japan[58]. Moist areas and uncultivated ground at elevations up to 1700 metres in Nepal[272].
Range Tropical Asia.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Half Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Emilia sonchifolia Cupid


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Emilia_sonchifolia_Blanco2.282.png
Emilia sonchifolia Cupid
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:J.M.Garg

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Emilia sonchifolia is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in flower from July to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Cacalia sonchifolia.

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Shoots
Edible Uses:

Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked[2, 46, 61, 105, 177, 272]. Used as a vegetable[272]. The whole plant, including the flowers, can be eaten raw or cooked[144]. The leaves are usually harvested and used before the plant flowers[183]. A nutritional analysis of the leaves is available[218]. The powdered plant is used to prepare a cake fermented with yeast (called marcha in Nepal) from which liquor is distilled[272].

References   More on Edible Uses

Composition
Figures in grams (g) or miligrams (mg) per 100g of food.
Leaves (Dry weight)
  • 308 Calories per 100g
  • Water : 0%
  • Protein: 22g; Fat: 3.3g; Carbohydrate: 64.3g; Fibre: 11g; Ash: 10.4g;
  • Minerals - Calcium: 2187mg; Phosphorus: 648mg; Iron: 0mg; Magnesium: 0mg; Sodium: 0mg; Potassium: 0mg; Zinc: 0mg;
  • Vitamins - A: 0mg; Thiamine (B1): 0mg; Riboflavin (B2): 0mg; Niacin: 0mg; B6: 0mg; C: 0mg;
  • Reference: [ ]
  • Notes:

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Astringent  Depurative  Diaphoretic  Diuretic  Dysentery  Expectorant  Febrifuge  Odontalgic  
Ophthalmic

A tea made from the leaves is used in the treatment of dysentery[218]. The juice of the leaves is used in treating eye inflammations, night blindness, cuts and wounds and sore ears[240, 272]. The plant is astringent, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge and sudorific[147, 218, 272]. It is used in the treatment of infantile tympanites and bowel complaints[240]. The juice of the root is used in the treatment of diarrhoea[240, 272]. The flower heads are chewed and kept in the mouth for about 10 minutes to protect teeth from decay[272].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

An easily grown plant[1], succeeding in most well-drained soils in a sunny position[200]. Plants flower better when growing on nutritionally poor soils, producing much lusher growth on rich soils[200]. Plants are drought tolerant once established[200]. Plants are not frost hardy, but they succeed outdoors in Britain as a spring-sown annual[200]. Slugs can be a problem with this plant in a wet spring[200]. The leaves are frequently sold in local markets in Java[183].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts[1, 200]. The seed can also be sown outdoors in situ in the middle of spring[1, 200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Emilia coccineaTassel Flower, Scarlet tasselflowerAnnual0.6 8-11  LMHNDM21 
Spiraea betulifolia aemiliana Shrub0.3 4-8  LMHNM10 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

(L.)DC.

Botanical References

58200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

tessy ishabor   Thu Jan 5 2006

The morphorlogical Description of the plant was not stated.

divya   Fri Feb 6 2009

has this plant been tissue cultured? is there similar components in cultured plant

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Subject : Emilia sonchifolia  
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