Scoparia dulcis
Scoparia dulcis L.
Scoparia dulcis is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family. Common names include licorice weed, goatweed, scoparia-weed and sweet-broom in English, tapeiçava, tapixaba, and vassourinha in Portuguese, escobillo in Spanish, and tipychä kuratu in Guarani.
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Scoparia dulcisScoparia dulcis
Scoparia dulcis
Scoparia dulcis
Scoparia dulcis
Scoparia dulcis
Scoparia dulcisScoparia dulcisScoparia dulcisOverview
Scoparia dulcis is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family. Common names include licorice weed, goatweed, scoparia-weed and sweet-broom in English, tapeiçava, tapixaba, and vassourinha in Portuguese, escobillo in Spanish, and tipychä kuratu in Guarani. It is native to the Neotropics but it can be found throughout the tropical and subtropical world.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/15/2026
Although S. dulcis is considered a weed in many parts of India and Bangladesh, its use in traditional medicine has led to overexploitation. The plant is also found as a weed in American citrus groves.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/15/2026
Life cycle
From seed to productSeed & germination
The plant is propagated mainly by **seed**: sow fresh or pre-treated seed in loose, moist soil and keep it evenly damp; germination follows within a few weeks.
Seedling & growth
Seedlings establish, forming leaves and roots; growth rate depends on light and moisture.
Flowering
The plant blooms with **small white flowers, almost year-round**; pollination is by insects and wind.
Fruiting & harvest
After flowering the plant sets fruit and seed; **whole plant gathered year-round, best in summer–autumn**.
Uses
- dulcis is considered a weed in many parts of India and Bangladesh, its use in traditional medicine has led to overexploitation.
Habitat & conservation
It is native to the Neotropics but it can be found throughout the tropical and subtropical world. The plant is also found as a weed in American citrus groves.
Conservation
Scoparia dulcis has not been assessed by the IUCN Red List (NE). As a medicinal plant, it benefits from sustainable collection and propagation to protect wild genetic resources.
References
- 1Wikipedia – Scoparia dulcis — Wikipedia,
- 2Kew POWO – Scoparia dulcis — Plants of the World Online (Kew),
- 3Wikidata – Q7787299 — Wikidata,