Family: Moraceae
Origin, Description & Uses
Dorstenia contrajerva, commonly known as contrahierba or snakewort, is a small perennial herb native to Central and South America. It typically grows close to the ground with a rosette of green, lobed leaves and produces unique, flat, disc-shaped flowers that are often overlooked. Traditionally, contrahierba has been used in folk medicine for digestive issues, fevers, and as a general tonic, valued for its purported medicinal properties. While it can be an interesting addition to a medicinal plant collection, it is not commonly cultivated as an ornamental.
Risks & Threats
Although Dorstenia contrajerva is currently not known to be naturalized in the Hawaiian Islands, it possesses characteristics that are cause for concern. Its ability to spread rapidly in tropical environments, combined with potential competitiveness against native understory plants, could threaten delicate island ecosystems if introduced. To protect Hawaii’s native biodiversity and avoid ecological disruption, it is recommended to choose a low-risk or native alternative for medicinal or garden use rather than cultivating this high-risk species.
High Risk Traits:
- Broad climate suitability – Grows from sea level to 2000m
- Naturalized – In Florida and Singapore
- Weed of gardens & greenhouses – Escapes cultivation easily
- Possible crop weed – Reported in coffee plantations
- Shade tolerant – Can establish in forest understory
- Self-compatible – Can self-pollinate
- Viable seeds – Germinate in 7–14 days
- Water dispersed – Propagules adapted for water dispersal
- Intentional introduction – Sold as an ornamental
- Nursery contaminant – Spreads easily among pots
- Small, explosive seeds – Could be moved unintentionally
- Congeneric weeds exist – Other Dorstenia species are weedy
Low Risk Traits:
- No spines/thorns
- Not toxic to humans – Used medicinally
- No fire hazard – Succulent herb of moist areas
- Not wind or bird dispersed
- Not prolific seeder
