Ruby Saltbush - Enchylaena tomentosa

Enchylaena tomentosa

This inconspicuous little succulent is a halophyte that can be found in any state of Australia, and has edible leaves and berries. The berries are small (~5mm) and though usually red can be yellow, although I believe that the yellow fruit are immature stages of the red fruit, as they occur on the same plant. The plant is quite variable, from prostrate to upright, with grey to green leaves. There are two varieties in South-east QLD, E. tomentosa var. tomentosa and E. tomentosa var. glabra, having either tomentose or glabrous stems and leaves respectively.

Genus species	Ruby Saltbush
CHENOPODIACEAE
Identification Shrub up to 1.5m (rarely this tall), often procumbent. Terete (cylindrical) leaves tomentose, giving greyish appearance. Fruiting perianths red or yellow, depressed-globose, succulent	Habitat Found throughout most of Australia, both coastally and inland, also a common plant of salt marshes.
Flowers  year round	Fruits  year round
Etymology   Tomentose – covered with short dense matted hairs	Warning   None
Edibility Raw- fruit and leaves	Medicinal Prevents scurvy



Red and yellow fruit on the same shrub

The leaves have been eaten by early white people in Australia to prevent and/or cure scurvy. There is no other medical information available on this plant. There are records of the fruit being eaten by the Alyawara people of central Australia.



Cylindrical cross section of succulent leaf



Leaf arrangement around stem



The fruit taste sweet and salty



The large seed inside each fruit

Exerpt from Stanley & Ross

 

References O’Connell, J & Barnett, P. 1983.  Traditional and Modern Plant Use among the Alyawara of Central Australia. Economic Botany 37(1) : 80-109 Stanley, T & Ross, E. Flora of South-eastern Queensland V1. 1983. Department of Primary Industries (QLD)

Ageratum - Blue Billy Goat Weed

Ageratum conyzoides

 A. conyzoides has long been used medicinally around the globe, in addition to possessing insecticidal and nematodicidal activity.

Ageratum conyzoides	Blue Billy Goat Weed
ASTERACEAE
Identification Erect herbaceous annual, 30-80cm.  Composite flowers of pale blue/lilac Entire plant covered in fine white hairs. Broad ovate leaves, tapering point, serrated margins, soft to touch. Leaves are variable in size and shape, but similar. Leaves are strongly scented Fruit is an achene	Cultivation  Weed, don’t cultivate! This weed prefers open spaces, paddocks etc, and moisture, but will tolerate dry areas. Ageratum has a natural range from North America to Central America and the Caribbean.
Flowers  Year round	Fruits   X
Etymology   “a geras” (Greek) – non-aging, referring to the longevity of the flowers and plant “conyzoides” (Greek) – from “kónyz” the greek name for Inula helenium , which it resembles	Warning   Due to conflicting reports on the edibility of this plant I cannot recommend its use as an edible plant.
Edibility Caution recommended	Medicinal Antibacterial – Leaf – wound healing Insecticidal – (leaf oil) against weevils



Ageratum Flowers

Whilst A. conyzoides has traditionally been eaten as a vegetable, contemporary researchers have discovered in it potential hepatotoxic compounds, which is why I cannot recommend its use as a vegetable today. However, being young, strong and healthy with no liver complaints, I would eat it myself if I were hungry and lacking other food sources. Other studies have found the essential elements K, Na, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn and Zn and the non-essential elements Al, Ba, Sr and Rb to be present in significant concentrations. Other elements present at trace levels include Co, Cr, Sc and V. The researchers conducting these studies appear to believe that the presence of the elements calcium, potassium and sodium may be responsible for disease prevention in traditional usage, and that Iron Manganese and Zinc presence which are present in hormone, insulin, protein and immune reactions may also contribute to its healing properties in traditional medicine which include the treatment of diabetes, diarrhoea and infertility. These same researchers, however, warn against indiscriminate use (ingestion) of A. conyzoides due to the presence of Barium, which has the potential to accumulate in the body through repeated use and is a known toxin (Dim et al, 2004).

Ageratum -leaf detail
.

Ageratum - opposite leaves. Note hairs
covering plant.

In studies conducted by Borthakur and Baruah (1987) the essential oil of  A. conyzoides has been shown to contain compounds that act as antijuvenile hormones in insects, effectively rendering them sterile, which would explain its use as an insecticide.

Blue Billy Goat Weed has been used to treat  wounds, bites, burns, typhoid fever, ‘body swelling’, tumours and as a ‘hair lotion’. Unfortunately, although several papers have listed which ailments Ageratum has been used to treat, they rarely go into any detail as to which part of the plant was used or how it was prepared. In Africa it has been used to treat pneumonia, although specifics on how to use the plant are not given. Its most common use appears to have been as a fresh leaf poultice for wounds, cuts bites or skin complaints, and this is most likely due to its antibacterial properties. This plant has also shown anti-inflammatory activity and increased wound healing in clinical trials on rats. In South America, A. Conyzoides twigs have been used as a vegetable. Following is a list of its medicinal uses;

Wounds, Bites, Burns –  the leaves are made into a paste and applied directly.

Colic, Colds, Fevers, Diarrhoea, Rheumatism, muscle spasms and as a tonic – aqueous extract (which I assume means a decoction or infusion), although wether for internal or external use is not specified.

Headache – poultice of boiled leaf paste

Bacteriocide, Antidysentric, Fever, Colic – no details given

Ageratum - overall habit

Overall I would suggest only using this plant externally.

References Dim, L., Funtua, I., Oyewale, A., Grass, F., Umar, I., Gwozdz, R. & Gwarzo, U. 2004. Determination of some elements in Ageratum conyziodes, a tropical medicinal plant, using instrumental neutron activation analysis. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 261 (1) 225-228 Gbolade, A. , Onayade, O. &  Ayinde, B. 1999.  Insecticidal Activity of Ageratum conyzoides L. Volatile Oil against Callosobruchus maculatus F. in Seed Treatment and Fumigation Laboratory Tests. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science  19 : 237-240 Ming, L.C. 1999.  Ageratum conyzoides, A tropical source of medicinal and agricultural products. In: Janick, J. (ed.) Perspectives on New Crops and New Uses. Saikia , B.,  Rethy,  P.  Gajurel, P.  & Doley, B. 2012. Exotic wild edible plants of Sonitpur District, Assam. Journal Of Biosciences Research 3(1):71-75 Saklani, S. &  Jain, S. 1989. Ethnobotanical Observations on Plants Used in Northeastern India.  1989, Vol. 27, No. 2 , Pages 65-73