Capraria biflora

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

NAME: Capraria biflora

FAMILY: Scrophulariaceae

COMMON NAMES:   Goatweed, stowweed

LOCAL NAMES: Chokuilxim, boox, claudius

MORPHORLOGICAL DESCRIPTION:

Capraria biflora is a white-flowered, herbaceous perennial plants with multiple stems up to 1.4m in height and whose base becomes woody with age.

USEFUL PART(s): Root

GENERAL USES:

  • The aerial parts of the plant are used to make a tea

  • Strong insecticidal activity

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION:  

Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela

 WHY IS IT GREEN?

  • Antifungal agent

  • Colds and flu

  • Diarrhea

  • Hemorrhoids

  • fever

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Goatweed helps revegetate disturbed areas, protects the soil, and furnishes cover for wildlife

FUN FACT

Goatweed is a dangerous depressant in large quantities

FURTHER READINGS

Acosta, S. L., Muro, L. V., Sacerio, A. L., Monteagudo, G. L., Peña, A. R., & Okwei, S. N. (2003). Anti-inflammatory effects of an aqueous extract of Capraria biflora L. Acta Farmaceutica Bonaerense.

Da Souza, L. G. S., Almeida, M. C. S., Monte, F. J. Q., Santiago, G. M. P., Braz-Filho, R., Lemos, T. L. G., Gomes, C. L., & Do Nascimento, R. F. (2012). Chemical constituents of capraria biflora (scrophulariaceae) and larvicidal activity of essential oil. Quimica Nova. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-40422012001100032

De Aquino, T. M., Lima, C. S. D. A., De Albuquerque, U. P., & De Amorim, E. L. C. (2006). Capraria biflora L. (Scrophulariaceae): Uma revisão. In Acta Farmaceutica Bonaerense.

Fonseca, A. M., Pessoa, O. D. L., Lemos, T. L. G., & Nascimento, R. F. (2006). Constituents of the essential oil of capraria biflora from northeast Brazil. Journal of Essential Oil Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.2006.9699052