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Baccharis genistelloides - (Lam.) Pers.

Common Name Carqueja
Family Asteraceae
USDA hardiness 9-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Rainforest[ 318 ].
Range S. America - northern Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru and Colombia.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (4 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Wet Soil Full sun
Baccharis genistelloides Carqueja


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Baccharis genistelloides Carqueja
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Summary

Baccharis genistelloides or otherwise known as carqueja is a perennial plant characterized by its green stem. It is found in South America. It belongs from the Asteraceae family. The whole plant has many medicinal uses. It is a natural aide for diabetes and is believed to lower blood pressure. It has antiviral activity and is used for reducing stomach acidity and inflammation, and as treatment for ulcers among others. Other names: Carqueja, bacanta, bac?rida, cacaia-amarga, cacalia amara, cac?lia-amarga, cac?lia-amargosa, cacliadoce, carqueja amara, carqueja-amargosa, carqueja-do-mato, carquejilla, carquejinha, chinchimani, chirca melosa, condamina, cuchi-cuchi, quimsa-kuchu, quinsu-cucho, quina-de-condamiana, tiririca-de-balaio, tres-espigas, vassoura.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Baccharis genistelloides is an evergreen Perennial growing to 2 m (6ft) by 2 m (6ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Baccharis triptera Mart. Conyza genistelloides Lam.

Habitats

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Abortifacient  Analgesic  Antacid  Anthelmintic  Antidiarrhoeal  Antiinflammatory  Antiviral  Bitter  
Blood purifier  Cardiac  Diaphoretic  Digestive  Diuretic  Febrifuge  Hepatic  
Hypoglycaemic  Kidney  Laxative  Leprosy  Malaria  Stomachic  Tonic  
Urinary

The whole plant is abortifacient, analgesic, antacid, anthelmintic, antiinflammatory, antiviral, bitter, blood purifier, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, febrifuge, hepatic, hypoglycaemic, laxative and tonic[ 318 ]. The plant contains up to 20% flavonoids, including quercetin, luteolin, nepetin, apigenin, and hispidulin[ 318 ]. These are considered the main active constituents[ 318 ]. Studies have shown that hispidulin has a particularly beneficial effect upon the liver, though it is more effective when used in combination with the whole plant[ 318 ]. Several novel plant chemicals called clerodane diterpenoids have also been identified and it has been shown that these had maximum effects against worms[ 318 ]. This could possibly explain carqueja's long history of use as an agent to expel intestinal worms[ 318 ]. Several other trials have been carried out on the medicinal properties of carqueja. These have supported the traditional uses of the plant to reduce stomach acidity, treat ulcers, reduce inflammation and lower high blood pressure[ 318 ]. Carqueja has also long been used in South America as a natural aid for diabetes, and several studies confirm its ability to lower blood sugar levels[ 318 ]. The plant's antiviral activity has also been verified in research with water-extracts showing activity against Herpes simplex I and Vesicular stomatitis viruses at low dosages[ 318 ]. It has also shown an in vitro inhibition of HIV virus replication in T-cells, which seems to be mainly due to the substance 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid which is found in the plant[ 318 ]. This substance is a potent inhibitor of HIV at dosages as low as only 1 mcg/ml[ 318 ]. The plant has long been used by the indigenous peoples of the rainforest to cure a wide range of common ailments[ 318 ]. In modern herbal use it is valued primarily as a tonic, bitter, febrifuge, and stomachic, with a particularly beneficial effect upon the liver and digestive system. It is used primarily to treat liver diseases, to strengthen stomach and intestinal function, and to help purge obstructions of the liver and gallbladder[ 318 ]. It is also used to treat a range of other conditions including malaria, diabetes, stomach ulcers, sore throat and tonsillitis, angina, anaemia, diarrhoea, indigestion, dropsy, urinary inflammation, kidney disorders, intestinal worms, leprosy, and poor blood circulation[ 318 ].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Other Uses: None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Not known

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Other names: Carqueja, bacanta, bac‡rida, cacaia-amarga, cacalia amara, cac‡lia-amarga, cac‡lia-amargosa, cacliadoce, carqueja amara, carqueja-amargosa, carqueja-do-mato, carquejilla, carquejinha, chinchimani, chirca melosa, condamina, cuchi-cuchi, quimsa-kuchu, quinsu-cucho, quina-de-condamiana, tiririca-de-balaio, tres-espigas, vassoura.

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

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Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Author

(Lam.) Pers.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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Subject : Baccharis genistelloides  
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