Trees & Plants

Beach sunflower

Merihi

Wollastonia biflora (L.) DC.

Forms dense thickets in open coastal vegetation Pounded leaves are used as a poultice on cuts, ulcers, sores and varicose veins. Decoction × of the roots is used in stomach ache. at Th reat & damage: The plant is an aggressive invader in Maldives threatening the native flora, esp

Details

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uses: Pounded leaves are used as a poultice on cuts, ulcers, sores and varicose veins. Decoction × of the roots is used in stomach ache. at Th reat & damage: The plant is an aggressive invader in Maldives threatening the native flora, especially the coastal vegetation. Spread of the plant is mainly through vegetative means and it is difficult to manage its spread once established. Management: Hand pulling of saplings would be helpful but will have to be repeated at periodic intervals until regeneration from the soil seed bank is exhausted. Planting fast growing native species in the weed removed areas will also arrest regeneration. For larger shrubs, herbicidal application using the cut-stump method will be useful.
family: Asteraceae
synonym: Wedelia biflora (L.) DC., Verbesina biflora L.
description: Scandent shrubs; stem ribbed, × of sparsely hairy. Leaves opposite, 5-10 2.5-7 cm, ovate-acuminate, cuneate at Th base, margin distantly serrate, rough with appressed hairs on both sides, 3-nerved from base; petiole to 1-2 cm long. Heads 1-2 cm across, 1-3 together, heterogamous, rayed; peduncle unequal, to 5 cm long, to hairy. Involucre campanulate; bracts 2-3 seriate, outer ovate-lanceolate or oblong- lanceolate. Ray florets ligulate, 2-3 toothed, at yellow; outer series of flowers female; inner bisexual. Achene 3-4 angled, narrowed towards base, truncate at apex, slightly tubercled; pappus absent.
native range: Indo-Pacific region
distribution: Paleotropics
english names: Beach sunflower
flowering fruiting: Th roughout the year
occurrence maldives: Forms dense thickets in open coastal vegetation