Arvenses technical data sheet: Chamaescyce prostrata

about 2 years ago (Edited)

Dear readers, once again we share with you a plant species considered arvense because sometimes its presence can be evidenced in cultivated ecosystems, although it can usually be seen in urban areas on roadsides, sidewalks and other spaces. Although the plant can influence cultivated ecosystems, the use of its vegetative parts has been used in natural medicine thanks to certain elements that compose it and that will be mentioned in this article. Without further ado, let's start with the description of the plant.

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ORIGIN OF NAME: Chamaescyce: from the Greek "chamai" = above ground and "cicyos" = cucurbitaceae. Due to the creeping and prostrate character of this plant, which resembles a cucurbitaceae. Prostrata: Lain adjective meaning prostrate.

ECO-BIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION: Native plant of the American continent, being introduced in some areas of Europe. Dicotyledonous plant, herbaceous, perennial, prostrate, 0.5 to 0.20 cm long, propagated by seeds. It is a very rustic plant and adapts well to unfavorable conditions. It is heliophilous (requiring direct sun for its growth) and is considered a noble hedge.

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MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION: Pivotal root, that is to say, it has a main root and secondary roots. Stem slender, herbaceous prostrate, highly branched, pubescent and very sticky whitish latex. Leaves opposite, short petiolate, ovate-oblong; green mainly in the sheaths around the nervures, and with scattered pilosity and more pubescent on the underside. Seeds have small seeds with a color between brown - pink.

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DAMAGE AND CONTROL: in the cultivated areas where it has been observed, it has not generated representative losses in spite of being a creeping species, the plant has the capacity to cover a large surface area, but it is also easy to control because it is an herbaceous species, which facilitates manual control or any other method that may be applied; the only negative effect it could cause in a plantation would be competition for water, nutrients and light.

Uses: this plant has a great potential from the medicinal point of view, since some researchers point out that thanks to its content of flavonoids, phenols and phenolic acids, it is effective for the treatment of some pathologies such as bleeding hemorrhoids, besides having antioxidant capacity.

Final considerations

In the specific case of the plant studied in this chapter, its damage is not representative in large areas, but if it appears in our garden or flower bed, we can control it manually and also use it for a home remedy such as the one mentioned, you can continue researching about it because it has many medicinal benefits.

Bibliographic references

Mejía, J. (2009). Manual of banana weeds. Syngenta.

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