Spigelia anthelmia aka West Indian Pink

Spigelia anthelmia, or West Indian pink, is an annual herb. It belongs to the Loganiaceae family. Its home range spans tropical and subtropical parts of the Americas. Kew places it in a tropical zone with dry seasons. It now grows wild beyond its home range, too. These areas include parts of Africa and Indonesia.

The plant grows from a group of shallow roots. Reported heights range from 0.3–4.3 feet [0.1–1.3 metres]. Useful Tropical Plants also lists a height of 2.5 feet [0.75 metres]. Most plants have one stem with no branches. Some form a few branches with very few leaves. These branches bear flowers at their ends. Plants can bloom and set seed throughout the year. The species can use its own pollen to set seed. Seeds may stay at rest after sowing before they sprout. Stored seeds can still sprout after at least three years.

In gardens, it grows in rich soil with sun or part shade. In the wild, it grows in damp thickets and along rivers. It also grows beside roads and on disturbed ground. Records list it in gardens, crop fields, and rice fields. In Guatemala, it occurs below 1,640 feet [500 metres]. African records range from sea level to 1,970 feet [600 metres]. Take care when planting, as it has spread beyond its home range. The supplied facts do not show how much frost it can take.

People gather this plant from the wild for use as medicine. People also trade it across borders. Past uses focus on gut worms, including tapeworms. People have used both roots and leaves for this. Other recorded uses include sore throats and thrush. They also include high blood pressure. These uses do not prove that treatment is safe. People also use the leaves to keep cockroaches away. Tests show that some of its compounds affect some insects. Some compounds cause beetles to eat less. Tests of extracts also show effects on certain parasitic worms.

There is no known food use; the whole plant is poisonous. Swallowing it can make you dizzy or cause vomiting. It can also cause blurred sight and seizures. The poison can kill, and reports include deaths in children. This risk means use as medicine inside the body needs expert guidance. People have also used the fresh plant as rat poison. Cattle can die if they eat large amounts of fruiting plants. Its past use as medicine does not make it safe to eat.