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Crassocephalum crepidioides
Also called Thickhead, Ebolo, Fireweed, Red Flower Ragleaf
Redflower ragleaf is an erect, slightly succulent annual herb reaching up to 180 cm, grown widely in tropical and subtropical regions and especially in tropical Africa. It is valued as a leafy vegetable, and its fleshy leaves and stems are cooked and eaten.
Crassocephalum 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.
Crassocephalum crepidioides contains the hepatotoxic and tumorigenic pyrrolizidine alkaloid, jacobine. However, in another study, it is shown that the antitumor activity and macrophage nitric oxide produce action.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Crassocephalum crepidioides by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
