Creeping-Oxeye

Scientific name: Sphagneticola trilobata

POWO Status: Subshrub

IUCN Red List threat level: Not evaluated

GPS Location: 17° 42′ 57.87″ N, 64° 49′ 44.90″ W

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Medicinal Uses

Sphagneticola trilobata (Wedelia) is traditionally used across the Caribbean, Central/South America, and Asia for inflammation, infections, colds, fevers, and reproductive issues, with modern research confirming potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, wound-healing, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties, stemming from compounds like flavonoids, terpenes (kaurenoic acid), and phenols. It’s used for ailments like bronchitis, rheumatism, indigestion, and even to clear the placenta after childbirth, while scientific studies explore its role in cancer therapy, diabetes management, and as a phytoremediator. 

Traditional Medicinal Uses

  • Infections & Inflammation: Colds, bronchitis, fevers, sore throats, wound healing, swellings, rheumatism, and painful joints.
  • Digestive & Liver: Indigestion, hepatitis.
  • Reproductive Health: Menstrual problems (amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea), fertility enhancement, and postpartum care (clearing placenta).
  • Other: Kidney issues, malaria, snakebites, and as a general pain reliever. 

Scientifically Studied Properties

  • Anti-inflammatory: Reduces inflammation and pain (analgesic).
  • Antioxidant: Fights cell damage, supports anti-aging.
  • Antimicrobial: Antibacterial and antifungal effects.
  • Anticancer: Shows potential against breast cancer and leukemia cells.
  • Antidiabetic: Helps lower blood glucose levels and inhibits related enzymes (like alpha-amylase).
  • Wound Healing: Promotes skin cell (fibroblast) survival and healing.
  • Hepatoprotective: Protects the liver. 

Key Bioactive Compounds

  • Flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids (including kaurenoic acid and eudesmanolides), tannins, and saponins. 

Note: While promising, much research is still in preclinical or traditional use, and professional medical advice should always be sought for health conditions.

Observations:

Phenological Markers – Sphagneticola trilobata

Common Name: Creeping Oxeye, Singapore Daisy, Wedelia
Scientific Name: Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski
Family: Asteraceae

Leaf Phenology

  • Leaf Type: Simple, opposite, bright green, usually 3-lobed but can vary
  • Growth Habit: Low, fast-growing mat-forming groundcover with trailing stems that root at nodes
  • Evergreen: Yes — retains foliage year-round in tropical climates
  • Leaf Flush: Continuous growth with new leaves emerging from creeping stems
  • Senescence: Individual leaves age and drop, especially under shading or competition, but overall cover remains persistent

Flowering

  • Inflorescence: Bright yellow, daisy-like flower heads borne singly on short stalks
  • Blooming Period: Year-round in warm, moist climates, with peaks during the rainy season or after trimming
  • Pollinators: Attracts bees, butterflies, and flies
  • Phenological Indicator: Open yellow flowers at or above foliage level, often abundant in well-lit areas

Fruiting

  • Fruit Type: Dry, one-seeded achene with reduced or absent pappus
  • Fruit Development: Limited — the plant often reproduces vegetatively, and viable seed production is rare, especially outside its native range
  • Dispersal: Primarily vegetative; spreads rapidly via creeping stems that root at nodes
  • Phenological Indicator: Visible flower heads often dry in place; fruits are not usually a reliable phenological marker

Suggested Photo Angles

  • Ground-level view showing mat-forming habit
  • Close-up of flower head (side and top views)
  • Close-up of 3-lobed leaf shape and opposite arrangement
  • Flowering patch in habitat context (sun vs shade)
  • Rooting nodes on trailing stems (if relevant)

Notes for Monitoring

  • Sphagneticola trilobata is highly invasive in many tropical and subtropical areas, including parts of the Caribbean
  • It is often used as ornamental groundcover but can outcompete native species, particularly in disturbed areas
  • Monitoring should focus on flowering intensity and vegetative spread, especially where control or ecological impact is of concern
  • Regular mowing or pruning can stimulate blooming, useful for studying flowering response
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