Okinawa Spinach, Redflower Ragleaf, Fireweed

Crassocephalum crepidioides

Physical Characteristics

Crassocephalum crepidioides is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in) by 0.3 m (1ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

Through most of tropical Africa, it has become naturalised in many other parts of the Tropics.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Root Edible Uses: A commercially cultivated vegetable. Leaves - raw or cooked. A distinctive, pine-like flavour[ 298 ]. The leaves are fleshy, somewhat mucilaginous with a nutty flavour[ 301 ]. The tender and succulent leaves and stems of ebolo are mucilaginous and are used as a vegetable in soups and stews, especially in West and Central Africa[ 299 ]. It is much appreciated for its special flavour, which is sharp but not bitter[ 299 ]. It is especially popular in south-western Nigeria. Here the leaves are lightly blanched, excess water is drained off, and the leaves are then cooked with peppers, onions, tomatoes, melon and sometimes fish or meat to make soups and stews[ 299 ]. In Sierra Leone the leaves are also popular and are made into a sauce with groundnut paste[ 299 ]. In Australia it is eaten as a salad green, either cooked or raw[ 299 ]. Roots - eaten with chilli sauce in Thailand[ 301 ].

Medicinal Uses

Epilepsy Skin Stomachic The leaves are used to treat indigestion[ 299 ]. The leaf sap is given to treat upset stomach[ 299 ]. A leaf lotion or decoction is used to treat headaches[ 299 ]. A mixture of the leaf sap, combined with Cymbopogon giganteus, is used orally and externally for the treatment of epilepsy[ 299 ]. Applied externally, the leaf sap is used as a treatment for fresh wounds[ 299 ]. The dried leaf powder is applied as a snuff to stop nose bleeding and smoked to treat sleeping sickness[ 299 ]. Tannin found in the roots of the plant is used to treat swollen lips[ 299 ].

Known Hazards

None known