Indian camphorweed
Pluchea indica (L.) Less.
Cúc tần (Pluchea indica), also called Indian camphorweed or Indian fleabane, is a small Asteraceae shrub of coastal and marshy ground; its camphor-scented leaves and pale-purple flower heads are eaten as a vegetable and used in folk medicine.
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Indian camphorweed — Coastal habitatIndian camphorweed — Plant
Indian camphorweed — Leaves
Indian camphorweed — Flowers
Indian camphorweed — Flowers & leaves
Indian camphorweed — Stem & rootsIndian camphorweed — Coastal habitatIndian camphorweed — PlantOverview
Cúc tần (Pluchea indica (L.) Less.), also called Indian camphorweed, Indian fleabane or Indian pluchea, is a small shrub of the aster family (Asteraceae), 0.5–2 m tall, much branched from the base and often forming clumps. The leaves are alternate, oval to oblong, 2–7 cm long, toothed, slightly hairy, and release a camphor-like scent from essential oils when crushed. The inflorescence is a small capitulum of pale purple to white flower heads set in terminal and axillary corymbs. The fruit is a very small achene bearing a pappus and dispersed by wind.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/10/2026
The plant favours damp, salty ground — seashores, marshes, sand flats and estuaries; it is native to South and Southeast Asia and Australia and has been introduced and become invasive on many Pacific islands (notably Hawaii). In Vietnam it grows wild and is sometimes planted around gardens; the young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and are served with vegetables, and in Indonesia and Malaysia it is known as ‘beluntas’ and used as a leafy vegetable. In folk medicine cúc tần is used for colds, headache, fever, dysentery and aches; its roots contain β-sitosterol and stigmasterol, studied for blood-sugar-lowering and snake-venom-neutralising effects. It is also planted for hedges, landscaping and coastal windbreaks.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/10/2026
Life cycle
From seed to productPlant
A small shrub much branched from the base, 0.5–2 m tall.
Leaves
Alternate oval to oblong leaves with toothed margins.
Flowers
Small capitula of pale purple to white flower heads.
Fruit
A small pappus-bearing achene dispersed by wind.
Distribution & origin
Share of recorded occurrences by region- Southeast Asia (incl. Vietnam)30%
- South Asia (India, Sri Lanka)25%
- Australia & New Guinea10%
- South China & Taiwan10%
- Pacific islands (introduced/invasive)25%
Chemical composition
Relative content in agarwood resin- Water80%
- Fibre6%
- Vitamins & minerals5%
- Flavonoids3%
- β-sitosterol & stigmasterol3%
- Essential oil (sesquiterpenes, camphor note)3%
Uses
- Food: young leaves eaten raw, cooked in soup or as a vegetable side (known as ‘beluntas’ in Indonesia/Malaysia); the leaves have a distinctive aroma
- Folk medicine: leaves and roots for colds, headache, fever, dysentery and aches; roots contain β-sitosterol & stigmasterol (studied for lowering blood sugar and neutralising snake venom)
- Landscape & environment: planted for hedges, ornament, coastal windbreaks and sand binding; however it is invasive on some islands and needs control
- Culture & names: the Vietnamese ‘từ bi’ (compassion) reflects its healing use; it has distinct names and traditional-medicine roles in India, China and Southeast Asia
Properties
- Form
- Small coastal shrub
- Product
- Edible young leaves; leaves & roots as medicine
- Hallmark
- Camphor-scented leaves; pale-purple flowers; salt-tolerant
- Uses
- Vegetable, folk medicine, hedge/landscape
Habitat & conservation
Indian camphorweed grows on damp, slightly salty ground: seashores, sand flats, salt marshes, estuaries, salt pans and coastal wasteland; it tolerates salt and waterlogging and prefers full sun. Native to South and Southeast Asia and Australia; introduced and invasive on many Pacific islands (Hawaii, Laysan…). In Vietnam it grows wild along the coast and is planted around gardens in many provinces.
Conservation
Not individually assessed by IUCN but widespread and spreading; not threatened, regarded as Least Concern (LC). Note: it is treated as invasive in Hawaii and on some Pacific islands. Aster family (Asteraceae), genus Pluchea — the same family as dandelion and garland chrysanthemum.
References
- 1Plants of the World Online — Pluchea indica (L.) Less. — Kew Science, 2026
- 2Pluchea indica (Indian camphorweed) — description, distribution, uses — Wikipedia tiếng Anh, 2026
- 3Cúc tần (Pluchea indica) — Wikipedia tiếng Việt — Wikipedia tiếng Việt, 2026
- 4阔苞菊 Pluchea indica — 形态、分布与利用 — Wikipedia tiếng Trung, 2026
- 5Nguồn ảnh: Boesenbergia (CC BY-SA 4.0); Forest and Kim Starr (CC BY 3.0 US) — Wikimedia Commons,
- 6Nguồn ảnh: Forest and Kim Starr — lá, hoa, hoa & lá, thân & rễ, sinh cảnh (CC BY 3.0 US) — Wikimedia Commons,