Redflower ragleaf (Crassocephalum crepidioides)

Sintrong or ebolo or thickhead or redflower ragleaf (Crassocephalum crepidioides) are plant species in Asteraceae, terma height 25-100 cm, white fibrous roots, generally grow wild on the roadside, yard gardens or abandoned lands at altitude 200- 2500 m.

C. crepidioides has erect or horizontal stems along the soil surface, vascular, soft, non-woody, shallow grooves, green, rough surface and short white hair, aromatic fragrance when squeezed. Petiole is spread on stems, tubular and eared.

Single leaf, spread out, green, 8-20 cm long, 3-6 cm wide, longitudinal or round inverted eggshell with a narrow base along the stalk. Pointed tip, flat-edged or curved to pinnate, jagged rough and pointed. The top leaves are smaller and often sit.

Compound flowers grow throughout the year in humps that are arranged in terminal flat panicles and androgynous. Green cuffs with orange-brown to brick-red tips, cylindrical for 13-16 mm long and 5-6 mm wide.

The crown is yellow with a brownish red tip and has five steps. The anthers and pistils are purple and the petals close together. The blooms will be tubular, green and nod down but erect after becoming a fruit.

The fruit is hard, slender elongated, has 10 ribs, 2.5 mm long with many fine brush hairs and is white to 9-12 mm long. The seeds spread by riding in the wind and traveling long distances.

Redflower ragleaf is often found in fertile wastelands, river banks, roadsides, tea and quinine plantations, especially in damp areas. Also in the dry fields. This plant is identified as a bi-season weed that is easily overcome.

Sintrong is thought to contain pyrolizidine alkaloids which can trigger tumors, but traditional societies utilize them as vegetables and animal feed. Some parts of the plant are used to treat stomach disorders, headaches, wounds, hemostasis, tonic, laxatives, fever, tonsillitis and eczema.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Asteroideae
Tribe: Senecioneae
Subtribe: Senecioninae
Genus: Crassocephalum
Species: Crassocephalum crepidioides

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