Goatweed
Capraria biflora
Goatweed
Capraria biflora
Goatweed is an evergreen perennial plant producing multiple stems up to 1.5 metres tall from a well-developed, long-lived taproot. Individual stems are usually much branched and live 2 - 3 years or more, becoming somewhat woody with age. The leaves are arranged alternately, are up to 12 cm long with a serrate margin and an acute leaf apex.
A popular tea and medicinal herb in parts of its range, where it is usually gathered from the wild. The plant is cultivated for medicinal use in Cuba.
Moist thickets and swamps, salt flats or in mangrove, abundant in once cleared lands.
Known Hazards
The plant is used to make a tonic tea and also for medicinal purposes. However, caution needs to be exercised since it can be a dangerous depressant in large quantities, with overindulgence sometimes leading to in stupor, disorientation, and paralysis
Capraria biflora
Goatweed is an evergreen perennial plant producing multiple stems up to 1.5 metres tall from a well-developed, long-lived taproot. Individual stems are usually much branched and live 2 - 3 years or more, becoming somewhat woody with age. The leaves are arranged alternately, are up to 12 cm long with a serrate margin and an acute leaf apex.
A popular tea and medicinal herb in parts of its range, where it is usually gathered from the wild. The plant is cultivated for medicinal use in Cuba.
Moist thickets and swamps, salt flats or in mangrove, abundant in once cleared lands.
Known Hazards
The plant is used to make a tonic tea and also for medicinal purposes. However, caution needs to be exercised since it can be a dangerous depressant in large quantities, with overindulgence sometimes leading to in stupor, disorientation, and paralysis
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