Elephantopus scaber L.
Elephant’s Foot / Tapak leman/Tapak leman babu (Bru.)
Description
Traditional Medicinal Uses
Ecology
Propagation
Distribution
Precaution
Perennial, pubescent herb that can grow up to 60 cm in height. Leaves are basally forming a rosette and spoon- shaped. Leaf blade is oblanceolate to spatulate, rounded to shortly acute at apex, gradually attenuate at base with wavy or toothed margin. Stems are rigid, crowded, densely clothed with stiff white hairs and branching. Inflorescence a head arising at terminal branch. Flowers are purplish- pink and tubular. Fruit a hairy achene that is covered with whitish pappus
The herb is made into an infusion and locally used for hypertension, diabetes and as a contraceptive. The herb is also used as an alternative sweetener instead of granulated sugar or table sugar. The plant exhibits antidiabetic, antimicrobial and antitumour
It thrives on gentle slopes, along roadsides along Àelds and around villages. It prefers moist soil under sunlight to partial shade.
Root planting.
Native to tropical Africa, Eastern Asia, Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia.
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