Boerhavia diffusa

red spiderling

Family: Nyctaginaceae • Genus: Boerhavia • Region: Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Chile, China (Fujian Sheng, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Eswatini, French Guiana, Gauteng, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guangdong Sheng, Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu, Guatemala, Guizhou Sheng, Guyana, Hainan Sheng, Haiti, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan (Ryukyu Islands), Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Laos, Liberia, Limpopo, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico SOUTHERN AMERICA: Anguilla, Montserrat (Puerto Rico, Mozambique, Mpumalanga, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles (Saba), New Caledonia AFRICA: Egypt, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Northern Cape), Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Florida, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sichuan Sheng, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa (Eastern Cape, South Carolina), St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, TEMPERATE ASIA: United Arab Emirates, Taiwan (south) TROPICAL ASIA: India, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, U.S.), Uganda, Uruguay PACIFIC: Fiji, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Virgin Islands (British), Yemen, Yemen (Arkhabil Suqutrá), Yunnan Sheng), Zambia, Zimbabwe

Summary: Boerhavia diffusa (red spiderling) is a plant in the Nyctaginaceae family. Verdica documents 0 traditional uses, 0 phytochemical compounds, and 0 herb-drug interactions for this species.

Traditional Uses

Phytochemicals

Herb-Drug Interactions

Edibility Records

Pet Toxicity Records

About Boerhavia diffusa

Spreading Hogweed or Boerhavia diffusa is a flowering plant used in Ayurveda. It is herbaceous and perennial. It grows up 70cm high and spreads up to 200 cm wide. It has slender, creeping and twinning stems. It is found throughout Asia, India, the Pacific, and southern United States. Its small, very sticky fruits that latch on to small migratory birds are considered to be of main factor for the wide dispersal of this species. It is used in traditional medicine as bitter, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, expectorant, laxative and stomachic. It is also used as against snake bite and decoction of leaves is used against jaundice. Aborigines eat the roots of B. diffusa. Leaves and seeds are edible as well when cooked. The plant is drought and frost tolerant and can be grown from seed sowing. Other common names are red spiderling, wineflower, punarnava, and tarvine.

Care Information

Sunlight	Full sun
Watering	High — needs consistently wet conditions
Soil	Well-drained
Hardiness Zone	USDA 8-11

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Disclaimer: The statements on this page regarding traditional uses of plants have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Traditional use information is presented for educational and historical reference purposes only, reflecting documented ethnobotanical practices. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal preparation, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have any medical condition. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 (US) or your local emergency number immediately.

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