Cupid's Shaving Brush, Lilac tasselflower

Emilia sonchifolia

Physical Characteristics

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.

Distribution

Tropical Asia.

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].

Medicinal Uses

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].

Known Hazards

None known