18 - CARQUEJA  Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC. (ASTERACEAE)

18- Carqueja - Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC. (ASTERACEAE)

Perennial, sub-shrub, up to 80 cm tall, very branched, erect, hairless, with winged stem, generally with 3 segments ,. Inflorescences in the leaf axils, yellow.

Distribution: South America.

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Situation in São Paulo: Present in open fields, vacant lots and locations in full sun, being a good indicator of lands that were once native fields, generally along with other species, also common.

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How to plant: With the most abundant rains it germinates in profusion, making it easy to collect some seedlings. It is a plant that grows fast and, after it blooms, it spreads making it unnecessary to make new collections. It is possible to be reproduced by cuttings and by clump division.

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Uses: It even forms broad branches of branches and is eventually used in landscaping as an ornamental, good for covering ravines together with field grass. However, its established use is as a medicinal herb, in the form of teas for digestive problems, as pain reliever and as a bitter tonic for the liver. It is a typical plant in bottles with drips, sold in bars.

GENÉ, RM ET AL. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANALGESIC ACTIVITY OF BACCHARIS TRIMERA: IDENTIFICATION OF ITS ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS. PLANTA MEDICA, V. 62, N. 3, P. 232-235, 1996.

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LORENZI, H. DANINE PLANTS IN BRAZIL: TERRESTRIAL, AQUATIC, PARASITE AND TOXIC. PLANTARUM INSTITUTE. NOVA ODESSA, SP, 4th ED. 2008. 672P. IL.