AGERATUM CONYZOIDES L. - BILLY GOAT WEED.
Synonym: ageratum latifolium, ageratum cordifolium, ageratum album, ageratum odoratum.
Common name: billy goat weed, goat weed, ramput taki ayam, tropical whiteweed, sereno, erva de Sao Joao,
chuva, baume, bouton, menstrasto.
Family: compositae (asteraceae).
A common tropical annual herbaceous weed in Suriname. Grows to a height of three feet, has little white flowers and opposite leaves.
The stem is often red and has long white hairs. The weak aromatic unpleasant smelling leaves are also covered with fine hair.
The dark seeds have scales and ends in a needle-like shape.
In alternative medicine, ageratum is used against epilepsy and wounds, also used as an insect repellant.
Pharmacology: the phytochemicals in tropical whiteweed include alkaloids, cumarins, essential oils, flavonoids and tannins.
Ageratum shows promising results for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity due to the favonoid fraction.
In Suriname's traditional medicine, the leaves are applied to cuts, burns and sores (styptic) and externally for body rash.
They are also used against sore throat, spasms, diarrhea and epilepsy.
Hardiness: USDA zone 9 B - 11.
Propagation: seeds and cuttings.
Culture: full sun, moist soil. The plant is not frost hardy, although it can be grown as a summer annual in zone 9, 8 and 7.
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