English: Dung Weed.
Region: tropical Africa, Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands.
Habitat: open, disturbed sites; wet places along streams, in forests, thickets, along roadsides; elevations sea level to 2,100 metres.
Content: kaurane-type diterpenes, with cytotoxic activity against leukaemia cells.
Use: leaves as a vegetable, with bitter flavour, so eaten in combination with other vegetables; blue dye.
BotanyAnnual, or perennial herb, up to 1 metre tall.
Flowers: flowering throughout the year