Synonyms

Acmella oppositifolia (Lam.) R.K. Jansen: Acmella mutisii Cass.; Acmella occidentalis Rich.; Anthemis occidentalis Willd.; Anthemis oppositifolia Lam.; Ceratocephalus americanus Kuntze; Spilanthes americana Hieron.; Spilanthes diffusa Poepp.; Spilanthes mutisii Kunth; Spilanthes oppositifolia (Lam.) D’Arcy

Local Names

Colombia: Chisacá, Yuyo quemado, Yuyo, Botón de oro, Quemadera, Botoncillo, Guaca, Guaquilla, Risacá, Yuyoquemao, Yuya; Ecuador: Botoncillo (Spanish), Sesa (unspecified language) (de la Torre et al. 2008)

Botany and Ecology

Perennial herb, stoloniferous, glabrous to densely hairy, between 20 and 30(120) cm tall. Stem creeping or erect, rooting at the nodes. Petiole up to 4.5 cm long, winged, leaf blade ovate to linear-lanceolate or elliptical, 1–6 cm long, 0.7–2 cm wide, obtuse to acute or sometimes acuminate at the apex, cuneate to truncate at the base, entire margin to denticulate or irregularly serrated, ciliate, trinervate (with three veins) or triplinervate, membranous, glabrous or densely hairy on both sides. Flower heads solitary or grouped by few at the ends of the branches, peduncles up to 25 cm long, involucre cylindrical to subhemispheric, the bracts arranged in two series, ovate to lanceolate, 2.5–7 mm long, blunt to acuminate at the apex, ciliated, receptacle conical at maturity, until 10 mm long, paleae oblong, 2.5–4.5 mm long. Flowers ligulate usually 11, but varying from 5–19, tube 1–2 mm long, hairy, the elliptic-oblong sheet, 2–4(–7) mm long, yellow-orange, glabrous; tubular flowers 70–300, 1.5–3 mm long, ligules up to 10 mm long, yellow-orange, glabrous, anthers about 1 mm long, dark brown to blackish. Achenae oblong, compressed, 1–2 mm long, black or blackish, callous margins and often ciliated, glabrous on the faces (Macbride and Weberbauer 1936–1995).

Local Medicinal Uses

Colombia: The decoction of the plant is used in the treatment of liver and bile diseases, against canker sores and to reduce the concentration of sugar in the blood. Additionally, the decoction or infusion of the whole plant is usually taken to prevent goiter or coto and also as a purgative. Externally it is used in cases of cutaneous affections: the decoction of the plant is used to eliminate the dark spots of the skin of the face. Inflorescences and flowers are used for oral affections: they reduce toothache and cure canker sores or small mouth ulcers (Fonnegra-Gómez and Villa-Londoño 2011; Fonnegra-Gómez et al. 2012; García Barriga 1975; Ministerio de Protección Social 2008; Pérez Arbeláez 1996). Ecuador: Bathing with the infusion of the crushed leaves serves to treat chicken pox in children. The infusion of the crushed plant, mixed with “chuko” and plum, is used as a kidney freshener (ethnicity unspecified – Azuay). The plant, in infusion, is used for colds and pains (unspecified ethnic group – Cañar). The flowers are used to treat indeterminate conditions (Mestiza-Morona Santiago). The flowers, crushed together with “pichana,” are used to calm the toothache (Kichwa de la Sierra-Loja; Unspecified ethnic group – Carchi, Pichincha, Cañar). The leaves, flowers, and the stem cure infections in the mouth (unspecified ethnicity – Pichincha). It serves as medicine for scurvy (Kichwa de la Sierra-Loja). Treats indeterminate conditions (Kichwa de la Sierra-Cotopaxi; Shuar-Zamora Chinchipe) (de la Torre et al. 2008).

Peru: The plant is used to treat internal bleeding, renal bleeding, and colds with high mucus (Bussmann and Sharon 2006, 2007, 2015a, b, 2018a, b), as well as respiratory disorders (Bussmann and Glenn 2010), and is normally used in mixture with other herbs (Bussmann et al. 2010).

Acmella calva has been introduced to the Himalayas and is being used in Nepal against snakebite (Kunwar et al. 2012, 2013, 2015).

Local Handicraft and Other Uses

Ecuador: Used as pig fodder (unspecified ethnicity – Azuay).