The World Flora Online

Herbs perennial. Stems trailing, to 200 cm; stems glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Roots thick, fleshy. Petiole 0.4-2 cm; leaf blade ovate, 1-5 × 1-4 cm, both surfaces sparsely pubescent, abaxially gray-yellow, wrinkled when dry, base rounded or cuneate, margin undulate, with stout, muticellular hairs, apex obtuse or acute. Inflorescences terminal, capitate-cymose panicles; peduncle slender, sparsely pubescent. Pedicel short to almost absent. Bracts small, lanceolate, pubescent. Perianth limb bright purple or purple-red, 1.5-2 mm. Stamens 1-3(-5), slightly exserted or included. Anthocarp clavate, 3-3.5 mm, 5-ribbed, with viscid glands and sparse pubescence, apex rounded. Fl. and fr. spring-autumn.

Source: [
• 18
]. 

Herbs, perennial [rarely appearing annual], sometimes slightly woody at base; taproot fusiform, woody. Stems decumbent, ascending, or erect, usually profusely branched throughout, 3-10 dm, glabrous or minutely pubescent basally, glabrous or sparsely pubescent distally. Leaves mostly in basal ¹/2 of plant; larger leaves with petiole 10-30 mm, blade broadly lanceolate, ovate, or broadly ovate, occasionally ± round, 20-60 × 15-50 mm (distal leaves smaller, often proportionally narrower), base truncate, broadly cuneate, round, or shallowly cordate, often oblique, margins sinuate, apex obtuse to round, abaxial surface paler than adaxial, glabrous or minutely puberulent, sometimes glandular, usually with few large multicellular hairs on veins, adaxial surface glabrous, rarely sparsely puberulent, neither surface punctate. Inflorescences terminal, forked ca. 3-6 times ± equally, diffuse, occasionally with sticky internodal bands; branches divergent, terminating in compact subumbellate or capitate, 2-5-flowered clusters. Flowers: pedicel shorter than 0.5 mm; bract at base of perianth quickly deciduous, 1, lanceolate, 0.8-1 mm; perianth purplish red to reddish pink or nearly white, campanulate beyond constriction, 1-1.5 mm; stamens 2-3, included or barely exserted. Fruits (1-)2-5(-9) per cluster, gray-brown to brown, obpyramidal, (3-)3.5-4.5 × 1-1.2 mm (l/w: 2.8-4.1), apex broadly conic, with sparse or moderately dense stipitate-glandular hairs on ribs, less densely pubescent or glabrous in sulci [rarely entirely glabrous]; ribs 5, round, smooth; sulci ± 2-2.5 times as wide as base of ribs, not rugose, not papillate. 2n = 26, 52, 54, 116.

Source: [
• 19
]. 

Boerhavia diffusa L., Sp. Pl. 3. 1753.

Hierbas perennes, leñosas en la base, postradas a débilmente ascendentes, puberulencia diminuta y frecuentemente dispersa, frecuentemente con algunos tricomas pilosos más largos a glabrescente. Hojas ampliamente ovadas, subrotundas u oblongas, 0.8–5 cm de largo y 1–4.5 cm de ancho, ápice agudo a redondeado y comúnmente mucronado, base cuneada a subtruncada, glabras o con algunos tricomas en los nervios del envés y los márgenes, sin puntuaciones café-rojas; pecíolo 0.5–4 cm de largo, puberulento- a tomentoso-glandular, comúnmente con algunos tricomas pilosos más largos. Inflorescencia con ramas distales escasa y menudamente puberulentas, casi glabras; porción basal del cáliz globosa, 0.5–1 mm de largo y de ancho, puberulento-glandular, la porción apical del cáliz campanulada, 1–1.5 mm de largo y de ancho, morada. Antocarpo oblanceolado, 2.5–3 mm de largo y 0.7–1.2 mm de ancho, ápice agudo, densamente viscoso-glandular.

Común en ambientes ruderales, especialmente en playas arenosas, zona pacífica; 0–100 m; fl y fr todo el año; Moreno 6234, Nee 28502; en todos los trópicos y subtrópicos, aparentemente nativa del Viejo Mundo.

Source: [
• 20
]. 

Perennial herbs; stems decumbent to ascending, 4-12 dm. long, rather slender, more or less viscid-puberulent. Leaves opposite or subopposite, often unequal at the nodes, petiolate; blade orbicular to rhombic-ovate below, frequently grading to lanceolate above, obtuse to rounded or acute at the apex, obtuse to rounded at the base, undulate or sinuate, 2-6 cm. long, 2-5 cm. broad, more or less puberulent to glabrate, yellowish green above, paler beneath, not punctate; petiole 1-4 cm. long. Inflorescences paniculiform, lax and many-flowered, leafy-bracteate at least below, viscid-puberulent to glabrate. Flowers in pedunculate glomerulate clusters, sessile or subsessile, the perianth tube 0.7-1.0 mm. long, somewhat less than 0.5 mm. broad, herbaceous, minutely glandular, the perianth limb campanulate, about 0.5 mm. long, red to purple, rarely white; stamens 3, slightly exserted. Anthocarps obovoid to subellipsoid, obtuse to obscurely beaked, 3-4 mm. long, 1 mm. broad, glandular, sessile or subsessile.

Source: [
• 21
]. 

Prostrate or ascending herb, to 50 cm long, many-branched from a taproot; twigs cylindrical, glabrous. Leaves in unequal pairs; blades 1.2-5.5 x 1.3-4 cm, ovate to wide ovate, chartaceous, sparsely pilose, especially on veins, lower side glaucous, the apex rounded to acute, shortly apiculate, the base rounded, truncate to nearly cordate, the margins wavy, ciliate; petioles pilose, 0.5-3 cm long. Flowers nearly sessile, 2-4(-7) in terminal, subcapitate clusters on axillary racemes or terminal panicles, 10- 30 cm long; the axes glabrous; bracts and bracteoles lanceolate. Calyx base 0.5-1.5 mm , puberulent, the limb funnel-shaped, red or violet, 0.6-1 mm long; stamens usually 2, slightly exserted. Anthocarp sessile, green, glandular-pubescent, sticky, short clubshaped, 2-2.5 mm long, 5-ribbed.

Source: [
• 23
]. 

Resembles Boerhavia procumbens Banks ex Roxb. from which it differs mainly in its fusiform fruits. I have not seen any authentic specimens of this species from Pakistan. It is common in Sri Lanka (the type locality of this species.)

Source: [
• 24
]. 

Herb up to 1 m, sometimes more; often richly branched, erect or decumbent at base, glabrous or puberulous particularly in the upper part. Leaves ovate-oblong or lanceolate, acute to obtuse at apex, truncate to rounded at base, 2–4 by 1.5–3 cm; flower surface often whitish with inserted, reddish glands along the margin; upper surface green. Petioles 1–4 cm. Inflorescences lax, many-flowered; ultimate peduncles glandular, terminated by a small cymose group of flowers. Pedicels 0.5–2 mm; bracteoles 1–2 mm long. Perianth campanulate, ca 2 mm long, constricted at the middle, white, pink or red. Stamens 2–3, slightly exserted. Ovary ovoid; style slightly exserted; stigma capitate-discoid. Anthocarp clavate, 2–3 mm long, with 5 longitudinal ribs with scattered, minute, sessile and stipitate glands.

Source: [
• 26
]. 

Tallo: presencia de espina(s) inerme(s); ramificación(es) difusa(s); consistencia del caule(s) herbaceo(s); forma de crescimiento procumbente(s)/decumbente(s). Hoja: filotaxia opuesta(s); margen(es) de las hoja(s) entera. Inflorescencia: posición terminal(es); tipo de inflorescencia(s) umbela(s). Flor: bracteola(s) presente(s); forma del perianto(s) campanulada(s). Fruto: antocárpico(s) presente(s); forma obpiramidal(es); presencia de glándula(s) glanduloso(s).

Source: [
• 1
]. 

Caule: presença de espinho(s) inerme(s); ramificação(ções) difusa(s); consistência do caule(s) herbáceo(s); forma de crescimento procumbente(s)/decumbente(s). Folha: filotaxia oposta(s); margem(ns) das folha(s) inteira. Inflorescência: posição terminal(ais); tipo de inflorescência(s) umbela(s). Flor: bractéola(s) presente(s); forma do perianto(s) campanulado(s). Fruto: antocárpico(s) presente(s); formato obpiramidal(ais); presença de glândula(s) glanduloso(s).

Source: [
• 1
]. 

Stem: presence of the spine unarmed; branching diffuse; consistency of the branch herbaceous; form of the growth procumbent/decumbent. Leaf: phylotaxy opposite; margin of the leaf entire. Inflorescence: position terminal; type of the inflorescence umbel. Flower: bracteole(s) present; form of the perianth campanulate. Fruit: anthocarpous present; shape obpyramidal; presence of the gland(s) glandulose.

Source: [
• 1
]. 

Flowers usually 2–7 (11) per cluster, sessile or with pedicels to 1 mm. long.

Source: [
• 16
]. 

Bracteoles more or less 1 mm. long, ovate to lanceolate, acuminate, margins fimbriate.

Source: [
• 16
]. 

Stems spreading, decumbent with ascending flowering stems to 1 m., diffusely branched, glabrous to puberulous, often with long septate hairs particularly around nodes.

Source: [
• 16
]. 

Perennial herbs, usually much branched from base.

Source: [
• 16
]. 

Inflorescences elongating greatly after start of flowering, ultimately lax, terminal, leafless, cymose panicles, occasionally a few scattered simple axillary cymes, branches glabrous.

Source: [
• 16
]. 

Leaves 1.5–6 × 0.8–5 cm., ovate, elliptic or subcircular, base subcordate, rounded, more or less truncate or broadly cuneate, apex acute to rounded, sometimes apiculate, usually more or less glabrous with long septate hairs mainly along veins below and margins; petioles to 4 cm., glabrous to puberulous, often with long septate hairs.

Source: [
• 16
]. 

Anthocarps 3–3.5 × 1–1.75 mm., clavate, apex rounded, glandular pubescent.

Source: [
• 16
]. 

Ovary more or less 0.5 mm. long, glabrous; style 1–1.5 mm. long, slightly exserted.

Source: [
• 16
]. 

Stamens 1–3, subequal, slightly exserted 1.5–2.5 mm. long,.

Source: [
• 16
]. 

Perianth 1.6–2.5 mm. long, lower portion 5-ribbed, glandular-pubescent, upper portion 0.5–1.2 mm. long, campanulate, whitish, pink, carmine or purple.

Source: [
• 16
]. 

Annual or perennial, prostrate, ascending or erect herb up to 1 m., sometimes with a thick taproot.

Source: [
• 17
]. 

Leaves broadly ovate to lanceolate, up to 6×5 cm., green, paler beneath, the base truncate to cuneate, the apex rounded to acute, with long septate hairs on the sinuate margins and veins beneath.

Source: [
• 17
]. 

Inflorescence a large diffuse terminal panicle up to 35 cm., the individual cymes (1–)3–5(–7)-flowered; branches glabrous to glabrescent.

Source: [
• 17
]. 

Stems fleshy, becoming woody towards the base, green, sometimes tinged purple, branching mainly from the base, the nodes swollen, glabrescent to puberulous with long septate hairs especially around the nodes.

Source: [
• 17
]. 

Fig. 1/1–4.

Source: [
• 17
]. 

Ovary ± 0.5 mm.; style slightly exserted.

Source: [
• 17
]. 

Anthocarp obovoid, 3–4×1–1.5 mm., 5-ribbed, rounded at the apex, glandular-pubescent.

Source: [
• 17
]. 

Perianth 1.5–2.5 mm. long; upper portion pink to purple, 1–1.5 mm. long.

Source: [
• 17
]. 

Anthers 1(–3), slightly exserted.

Source: [
• 17
]. 

Plante' vivace, à racine pivotante atteignant 20 cm de long et 2 cm de diam., à développement très variable, atteignant dans les formes diffuses jusqu'à 1,5 m de haut, glabre ou glabrescente.' Tiges''± longuement rampantes, ascendantes et florifères à leur extrémité, les primaires en général, se ramifiant tôt et abondamment; entre-nœuds de 1-16 cm de long et de 1-5 mm de diam.' Feuilles' d'une même paire inégales; pétiole de 0,5-3,5 cm de long; limbe ovale à ovale-lancéolé, parfois suborbiculaire, à sommet arrondi, obtus, cunéiforme, à base cunéiforme, tronquée, arrondie ou rarement un peu cordée, de 1,5-6,5 cm de long et de 1-4,5 cm de large, généralement discolore, à face inférieure souvent ± blanchâtre ou argentée, parfois ± glauque; nervure médiane émettant, de chaque côté, 2-5 nervures obliques, distinctes au moins en dessous; bords généralement ciliés et ± sinués.' Inflorescences' diversement développées, celles des plantes jeunes courtes et pauciflores, les plus tardives généralement plus amples et pouvant atteindre, dans la forme diffuse, 50 cm de long y compris le pédoncule, terminales mais paraissant souvent axillaires (surtout dans la forme rampante), à 3-15 nœuds et à ramifications dichotomiques, l'axe principal se prolongeant, au delà de chaque nœud, entre les 2 nouveaux axes, par un ramuscule florifère composé le plus souvent d'un pédoncule de 10-20 mm de long et d'une ombelle 4-flore; bractées le plus souvent lancéolées et à sommet aigu, souvent précocement caduques, celles des nœuds inférieurs parfois ± semblables aux feuilles, les dernières de l mm de long.' Fleurs sessiles ou subsessiles, en ombelles capituliformes 4-flores et entourées de bractées membraneuses de 0,5-0,8 mm de long; pédicelles inégaux, de 0,2-1 mm de long; périgone de 1-2 mm de long à partie inférieure ellipsoïde, 5-côtelée, verte, portant des poils glanduleux abondants surtout sur les côtes, à partie supérieure du périgone campanulée, légèrement 5-lobée, pétaloïde, blanche, rose, rouge ou violacée; étamines 2-3, à anthères un peu exsertes; ovaire ellipsoïde; style légèrement exsert, égalant ± les étamines; stigmate en dôme. Anthocarpe obconique, ellipsoïde ou obpyramidal, de 2-3 mm de long, à sillons remplis de cellules à raphides et côtes généralement très glandulifères. Caryopse ellipsoïde, de ± 2 mm de long, à paroi mince, jaunâtre, portant 2 stries longitudinales brunes.

Source: [
• 27
]. 

herbs

Source: [
• 21
]. 

Boerhavia diffusa grows as a decumbent perennial herb with ascending inflorescences to 50 cm. The leaves are arranged oppositely, orbicular to oval, 8 cm in length, with a sinuate leaf margin and an acute leaf apex. The leaf margins have multicellular linear trichomes. The incomplete, perfect, actinomorphic flowers are arranged in panicles. Flowers subtended by bracts. The calyx has 5 sepals that are pink purple. There are no petals. There are 2 stamens. The ovary is superior with 1 locules and ovule. The fruit is a 5 ribbed achene that is retained within the glandular calyx at maturity (anthocarp)

Source: [
• 25
]. 

Erva

From sea-level up to 2000 m alt., usually on open ground; on all soils inclusive of salt pans, sands and limestones.

Source: [
• 26
]. 

Boerhavia diffusa grows in sandy Human Altered environments (yards, abandoned fields, roadsides).

Source: [
• 25
]. 

Terrícola

Plante adventice héliophile, assez commune dans les défrichements et alentours des villages ainsi que dans les savanes.

Source: [
• 27
]. 

A weed widely dispersed throughout the tropics and subtropics of America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Carasola (Taboga Isi.).

Source: [
• 21
]. 

A common weed of open areas, common along sandy beaches. Reef Bay (A2727). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda; a pantropical weed.

Source: [
• 23
]. 

Boerhavia diffusa occurs throughout the entire Lucayan Archipelago and is found throughout all tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

Source: [
• 25
]. 

Pantropical weed. Type of unknown origin.

Source: [
• 26
]. 

Boerhavia diffusa is not known to be used medicinally in the Lucayan Archipelago.

Source: [
• 25
]. 

Locally used for medicinal purposes.

Source: [
• 26
]. 

Les feuilles sont employées comme remède contre la blennorrhagie et pour calmer les douleurs (cardiaques ?).

Source: [
• 27
].