Brazilian calla-lily
Richardia brasiliensis
Synonyms: Richardsonia sericea, Spermacoce ascendens, Richardia villosa, Richardsonia rosea, Richardia emetica, Richardsonia emetica, Richardia rosea, Richardia adscendens, Richardia sericea, Richardsonia adscendens, Spermacoce hexandra, Richardsonia brasiliensis, Richardia rosea f. lilacina, Richardia rosea f. albiflora, Richardsonia brasiliensis var. dubia, Spermacoce adscendens
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Botanical Description
Richardia brasiliensis Gomes (Rubiaceae), Brazilian calla-lily or tropical Mexican-clover, is a low, spreading annual or short-lived perennial herb native to South America (especially Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and northern Argentina) and now naturalised as a weed of lawns, pastures and disturbed ground throughout the warmer Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia. Plants form prostrate to ascending, much-branched stems 15-50 cm long that root readily at the lower nodes and bear a dense covering of stiff, spreading hairs. Leaves are opposite, sessile or shortly petiolate, elliptic to lanceolate, 2-5 cm long, hairy on both surfaces and joined by a fringed interpetiolar stipular sheath. Small white star-shaped flowers about 4-6 mm across are crowded into terminal head-like cymes subtended by two pairs of leaf-like bracts, each flower with six (rarely four) narrow corolla lobes. The dry indehiscent fruit splits into three warty mericarps.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
In folk medicine across tropical Latin America, where Richardia brasiliensis is a familiar weed, the whole plant has been used in domestic decoctions and infusions reported as a depurative and for diabetes, kidney complaints, headaches and digestive upsets, particularly in Brazil, Paraguay and Colombia (Lorenzi and Matos, 2002; Agra et al., 2007). Pharmacological investigations have explored emetic, expectorant and antimicrobial activity but its uses remain firmly in the realm of unverified folk practice.
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.