Eleutheranthera ruderalis, Porter-bush

Eleutheranthera ruderalis (Sw.) Sch.Bip.
Family: Compositae

English: Porter-bush

Synonyms: Eleutheranthera areolata Klatt, Eleutheranthera discoidea (Less. ex Less.) M.Gómez, Eleutheranthera ovalifolia Baill., Eleutheranthera ovata Poit. ex Steud., Eleutheranthera prostrata var. leiocarpa (Cass.) Hochr., Eleutheranthera prostrata var. portoriccensis (DC.) Hochr., Eleutheranthera ruderalis var. radiata Pruski, Eleutheranthera ruderalis var. ruderalis, Gymnopsis microcephala Gardner, Kegelia ramossisima Sch.Bip., Melampodium ruderale Sw., Melampodium ruderalis Sw., Ogiera eleuthranthera Steud., Ogiera leiocarpa Cass., Ogiera ruderalis (Sw.) Griseb., Ogiera triplinervis Cass., Ogiera triplinervis var. leiocarpa (Cass.) DC., Ogiera triplinervis var. portoriccensis DC., Ogiera triplinervis var. triplinervis, Verbesina foliacea Spreng., Wedelia discoidea Less., Wedelia discoidea Schltdl., Wedelia eclipta Reich.

Description: Annual herbs; stem glabrescent. Leaves 2.5-5.5 x 2-3.5 cm, ovate or ovate-oblong, base cuneate, sometimes oblique, apex acute or subobtuse, pubescent on both surfaces, 3-nerved from base; petiole to 1 cm long. Heads 6-12-flowered, axillary, homogamous, non-rayed; peduncle 0.2-1 cm long, erect at first, becomes curved in fruit. Involucral bracts in 2 series, outer leafy, 5-8 x 2-3 mm. Flowers bisexual. Corolla yellow, tubular, 3-4 mm long, 5-lobed. Anthers sagittate at base. Achenes 3-3.5 mm long, obovoid, slightly angled, tubercled, finely pubescent.

Whole plant decoction taken with stout or ale to enhance the production of milk in lactating/nursing mothers, also taken for high blood pressure. Leaf paste applied on cuts and wounds, warmed and applied in rheumatic pain.  [CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants]

Whole plant: Decoction is drunk with stout or ale to enhance milk production by lactating and nursing mothers; for high blood pressure. [Medicinal Plants of the Guianas (Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana)]

5 Published articles of Eleutheranthera ruderalis
1. Eleutheranthera ruderalis (Swartz) Sch.-Bip. (Asteraceae), a newly naturalized plant in Taiwan
By: Yang, Sheng-Zehn; Hsieh, Gaung-Pu
Taiwania  Volume: 51   Issue: 1   Pages: 46-49   Published: MAR 2006

2. Comparative morpho-anatomical study of some aspect in Eleutheranthera ruderalis (Sw.) Sch.- Bip. and Synedrella nodiflora (L.) Gaertn. (Asteraceae)
By: Choudhury, Suptotthita; Mukherjee, Sobhan Kr.
Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany  Volume: 29   Issue: 2   Pages: 364-371   Published: 2005

3. Phytosociological studies on Eleutheranthera ruderalis (Sw.) Sch.-Bip., an exotic weed in Kerala.
By: Sheela, D.; Hema, S.
Geobios (Jodhpur)  Volume: 30   Issue: 4   Pages: 271-273   Published: October 2003

4. NOTES ON THE OCCURRENCE OF ELEUTHERANTERA-RUDERALIS SW. SCH.-BIP ASTERACEAE IN ANDROTH ISLAND LAKSHADWEEP INDIA
By: JAYARAM K M; PRADEEP A K
Indian Forester  Volume: 116   Issue: 7   Pages: 595-596   Published: 1990

5. ELEUTHERANTHERA-RUDERALIS NEW-RECORD COMPOSITAE FOR SOUTH INDIA
By: SASIDHARAN N; NAMBIAR V P K
Indian Journal of Forestry  Volume: 4   Issue: 3   Pages: 240-241   Published: 1981