Image: Crassocephalum crepidioides by kadavoor

Description: Crassocephalum crepidioides (Syn. Gynura crepidioides), also called ebolo, thickhead, redflower ragleaf, or fireweed, is an erect annual slightly succulent herb growing up to 180 cm tall. Its use is widespread in many tropical and subtropical regions, but is especially prominent in tropical Africa. Its fleshy, mucilaginous leaves and stems are eaten as a vegetable, and many parts of the plant have medical uses. However, the safety of internal use needs further research due to the presence of plant toxins. Flowerheads are cylindrical, green, with red florets visible on top. Seeds are floating balls of numerous silky white hair, which kids in India call by names equivalent to 'old lady' in different languages. Thickhead is native to tropical Africa, but now naturalized in India and South East Asia. C. crepidioides contains the hepatotoxic and tumorigenic pyrrolizidine alkaloid, jacobine.
Title: Crassocephalum crepidioides by kadavoor
Credit: Own work
Author: Jeevan Jose, Kerala, India
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License: CC BY-SA 4.0
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