Alternanthera littoralis
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| Alternanthera littoralis (P.Beauv.) |
Contents |
[edit] Synonyms
- Bucholzia maritima Mart.
- Alternanthera maritima (Mart.) A.St.-Hil.
- Telanthera maritima (Mart.) Moq.
[edit] Origin and distribution
Alternanthera littoralis is recorded in Africa along the Atlantic coast from Senegal to Angola, and from Madagascar. It also occurs along the Atlantic coast of South America.[1][2]
[edit] Uses in tropical Africa
The leaves of Alternanthera littoralis are collected from the wild and eaten as a cooked vegetable by various ethnic groups in Atlantic coastal regions in Africa. Because of its long stolons the plant is also a useful sand-binder. In Côte d’Ivoire it is medicinally used as an alterative for children and pulped up it is applied to frictions to treat oedema. [1][2]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (2004) Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA Foundation, Wageningen; Backhuys, Leiden; CTA, Wageningen.
- ^ a b PROTAbase on Alternanthera littoralis
