Blumea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae (daisy family), placed in the order Asterales. The genus comprises roughly 50 accepted species, distributed primarily across the tropical and subtropical zones of Asia, with the greatest diversity in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. A smaller number of species extend into Australia and Africa.
Plants in this genus are mostly relatively small, often weedy herbs. Several species are ruderal, colonising disturbed ground such as roadsides and field margins. A number of Blumea species were formerly included in the closely related genus Conyza before being reassigned.
Many species have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine, and the genus also finds application as a source of decorative dried plant material. One of the best-known members, Blumea balsamifera, holds cultural significance in Thai folklore, where it is traditionally reputed to ward off spirits, and it is also employed in Philippine herbal medicine. Blumea axillaris (synonym Blumea mollis) has been studied for the chemical composition of its leaf essential oil, which contains linalool, γ-elemene, copaene, estragole, allo-ocimene, γ-terpinene, and allo-aromadendrene, and has demonstrated larvicidal activity against the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus.
The genus name Blumea also designates the journal Blumea: Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants, published by the National Herbarium of the Netherlands (Naturalis Biodiversity Center).
Distribution
Blumea is concentrated in tropical and subtropical Asia, with the highest diversity in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. A few species reach Australia, and still fewer occur in Africa.
Ecology
Most Blumea species are relatively small herbs growing as weeds in disturbed habitats; several are ruderal species adapted to roadsides and other human-modified environments.
Cultural Uses
Many Blumea species are ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine. Blumea balsamifera is used in Thai folklore to ward off spirits and in Philippine herbal medicine. Some species are also harvested as decorative dried plants.
