Erect tropical daisy
StarEgletes viscosa
Synonyms: Cotula viscosa, Grangea domingensis var. viscosa, Egletes viscosa var. sprucei, Platystephium graveolens, Egletes viscosa f. bipinnatifida, Egletes viscosa var. dissecta
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In northeastern Brazilian folk medicine, the dried flower buds of Egletes viscosa (macela) are prepared as an infusion to treat digestive and intestinal disorders, including colic, dyspepsia, heartburn, gastric ulcer and diarrhoea (Mors et al., 2000). The traditional gastroprotective use is supported by pharmacological study showing that extracts and isolated diterpenes protect against ethanol-induced gastric ulceration in mice.
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Botanical Description
Egletes viscosa, known in Brazil as macela or macela-da-terra, is a small, sticky, aromatic annual herb of the aster family, reaching about twenty to forty centimetres, with branching, glandular-hairy stems that feel viscid to the touch. The alternate leaves are oblong to spoon-shaped with toothed or lobed margins and a resinous coating. The branch tips bear small, daisy-like flower heads with white to pale ray florets surrounding a yellow disc, and these dried flower buttons are the part chiefly used. The fruit is a small achene. Native to the seasonally dry intertropical Americas, it is especially common in northeastern Brazil, growing on riverbanks, floodplains and moist sandy ground exposed as waters recede.
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.
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