Bitter bush

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Bitter bush
• Siamweed
• butterfly-weed
• devilweed
• hagonoy
• jack-in-the-bush
• paraffin-weed
• triffidweed
• Armstrong's Weed
• Chromolaena
• Kingsweed
• Paraffin Weed
• Paraffinbush
• Turpentine Weed
• Common Floss Flower

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Chromolaena barranquillensis
• Chromolaena odorata f. squarrosa
• Chrysocoma volubilis
• Eupatorium atriplicifolium
• Eupatorium barranquillense
• Eupatorium brachiatum
• Eupatorium divergens
• Eupatorium floribundum
• Osmia atriplicifolia
• Osmia conyzoides
• Osmia divergens
• Osmia floribunda
• Osmia graciliflora
• Osmia odorata
• Eupatorium clematitis
• Osmia clematitis
• Chromolaena clematitis
• Eupatorium odoratum var. brachiatum
• Eupatorium odoratum var. cubense
• Eupatorium odoratum var. mallotophyllum
• Eupatorium odoratum var. pauciflorum
• Eupatorium odoratum f. scandens
• Eupatorium conyzoides var. phyllocephalum
• Eupatorium conyzoides var. tambillense
• Eupatorium conyzoides var. extensum
• Eupatorium conyzoides var. floribundum
• Eupatorium conyzoides f. angustiflorum
• Eupatorium conyzoides var. glabrescens
• Eupatorium conyzoides var. heterolepis
• Eupatorium conyzoides var. incanum
• Eupatorium conyzoides var. maximiliani
• Eupatorium conyzoides f. glabratum
• Eupatorium odoratum f. squarrosum
• Eupatorium conyzoides var. scaberulum
• Eupatorium graciliflorum
• Eupatorium conyzoides var. pauciflorum
• Eupatorium klattii
• Eupatorium odoratum
• Eupatorium sabeanum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asterales, it is classified under the family Asteraceae and is specifically identified by the genus Chromolaena.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide distribution across several regions in the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found inhabiting the landscapes of Benin and Guinea. The species is also widely distributed throughout the Ivory Coast and Nigeria. Furthermore, its presence extends into West-Central Tropical Africa. Specifically, it has been documented growing within the territory of Cabinda.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Chromolaena odorata is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, particularly within anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica). This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, thriving from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 2430 m AMSL, with an average elevational range centered around 1200 m AMSL. Its ability to colonize human-disturbed habitats allows it to spread effectively across varying landscapes, utilizing a wide vertical niche within its ecosystem.

Elevational range max:

2430 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Chromolaena odorata is characterized by a versatile and robust developmental strategy, primarily functioning as a perennial species that can also exhibit annual or biennial growth patterns depending on environmental conditions. Morphologically, the plant is classified as a phanerophyte, specifically manifesting as a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte, which allows it to maintain its reproductive buds and stems above the ground level. This life form enables the plant to effectively colonize disturbed habitats and thrive across diverse ecological niches through its resilient growth habit.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Chromolaena odorata is characterized by its growth form, which typically presents as a subshrub or herb. This species is a non-woody, self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, nor does it exhibit parasitic behavior, remaining an independent organism. In terms of its habitat and ecological niche, it is a terrestrial plant, lacking aquatic or epiphytic characteristics. The plant's physical stature varies significantly, with heights ranging from a minimum of 1.5 m to a maximum of 4 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 2.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height mean:

2.5 m

Plant height min:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Chromolaena odorata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in various environmental conditions. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly through the enzyme RuBisCO, a strategy that typically supports rapid biomass accumulation in environments where moisture and temperature are favorable. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms; instead, it relies on the uptake of available nitrogenous compounds, such as nitrates and ammonium, directly from the soil to support its growth and physiological development.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Chromolaena odorata is characterized by a highly flexible and prolific flowering phenology, with flowering periods that can occur throughout the entire year, spanning from January to December, though the exact timing remains variable depending on environmental conditions. The plant produces seeds with a notable range in mass, reflecting its efficient reproductive strategy; the individual seed mass varies from a minimum of 0.00009 g to a maximum of 0.0201 g, with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.0017966665 g. To facilitate the spread of these seeds, the plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind currents to carry its lightweight seeds across distances, which aids in its ability to colonize new habitats effectively.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jan

Seed mass max:

0.0201 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0017966665 g

Seed mass min:

9e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Chromolaena odorata has 4 reported plant parts identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research
2. Wound repair and regeneration : official publication of the Wound Healing Society [and] the European Tissue Repair Society
3. Plastic and reconstructive surgery
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Flower

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Stem

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Chemicals

Chromolaena odorata has 47 reported phytochemicals identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Flavonoid, Isosakuranetin, Saponins, Tannin.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. South African journal of botany : official journal of the South African Association of Botanists = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir plantkunde : amptelike tydskrif van die Suid-Afrikaanse Genootskap van Plantkundiges
3. TheScientificWorldJournal
4. Pharmacognosy reviews

Flavonoid

1. Veterinary world
2. TheScientificWorldJournal

Isosakuranetin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Frontiers in bioinformatics

Saponins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

Tannin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

Tannins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

Terpenoids

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

quercetin

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

(E)-Caryophyllene

1. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research

ALPHA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Chromolaena odorata has 171 reported activities identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Antimalarial, Analgesic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Journal of medicinal food
5. Veterinary world

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Veterinary world
5. TheScientificWorldJournal

Antimicrobial

1. Plastic and reconstructive surgery
2. Frontiers in bioinformatics
3. Veterinary world
4. Molecular medicine reports
5. Pharmacognosy reviews

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Scientifica

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Molecular medicine reports

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. TheScientificWorldJournal
3. Pharmacognosy reviews

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Molecular medicine reports

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Molecular medicine reports

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

Anticonvulsant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Chromolaena odorata has 25 reported medicinal uses identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include wounds, burns, malaria, diarrhea, wound healing.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations