WEEKEND FUN UDPATE: Can you identify this plant?

Thanks to all readers who participated in our Weekend Fun activity.

Many of you got it right. In Dominica this plant is widely known as Tabac Zombie but in other countries is also known as Tabac Diable, Bitter Tobacco or Indian Tobacco, among other names.

It is used as a  medicine for a whole range of ailments ranging from digestive problems, headaches, toothaches, sore throat, catarrh, flatulence, high blood pressure to rashes. It is considered to be an antiseptic and is also associated with spiritual cleansing.

Its scientific name is pluchea carolinensis.

 

 

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98 Comments

  1. dominican canadain
    September 4, 2012

    its goji

  2. valor
    September 3, 2012

    All in-one Herb,

  3. Anonymous
    September 3, 2012

    high leaf!!!!!

    • Mary
      March 5, 2024

      What do you mean high leaf!

  4. Mwen enkor
    September 3, 2012

    Tabak Zombie, also called mal mouton

  5. Mannie Fresh
    September 3, 2012

    This is a banana tree!

  6. Anonymous
    September 2, 2012

    Sage bush, commonly known as Jumbie Tobacco, Tabacco Zumbie,in the British Virgin Island it is also known as Cattle Tounge. in Dominica it is use for cough that is derives from a bad cold, it is drown, sweetened with honey and must not be used hot but warm, its job it to sooth the tissues in the throat where by causing the airway to open and causing the coughing to stop.

  7. G Henry Williams
    September 2, 2012

    I think i find it on line check it out, and please don’t be mistaken with the herb for it is a medicinal herb, the other which is used to kill fish is looking alike and is called nivoage something like that. http://ecflora.cavehill.uwi.edu/plantdetails.php?pid=306&sn=Pluchea+carolinensis&cn=cattle+tongue%2C+cure+for+all%2C+sweet+scent%2C+tabat-diable%2C+table+djab%2C+Wild+tobacco%2C+zowey+outen&gh=shrub

  8. reach out
    September 2, 2012

    well am going with the majority when i was a little girl my grandmother always had a bush remedy to give to me when am sick i remembered soon after hurricane david pass in 1979 immediately after we had that bad flu called zoukla and i think that was the bush medicene she gave me it is a very powerful herbs thanks dno for taking back memory lane now since am living foreign could you please fedex me some so i can pass it on to my children?

  9. cnscious
    September 2, 2012

    It is “tabac zombie” we use it cure cold in our nature island. going natural. my grand mother pass that information down to me.

  10. lee
    September 1, 2012

    This is pomade or tabac zobie very good herb for
    cold

  11. INTRESTED LIL GAL
    September 1, 2012

    TABAC ZOBIE/POMAD (A NAME COMES BEFORE IT BUT I DONT KNOW IT

  12. Dominican
    September 1, 2012

    Tarback zumbi

  13. September 1, 2012

    Taback Zombie….used to crush the leaves in a river pool…and all the fish, crayfish and lush would start acting funky, then you could just pick them out of the water….and they’d be safe to eat :-D

    • joni
      September 3, 2012

      Sorry but that not the same herbs, Taba Zombie has a nice smell.

  14. May
    September 1, 2012

    tabac zombie

  15. Sue
    September 1, 2012

    Mutant Marijuana?

  16. G Henry Williams
    September 1, 2012

    Would love to know the scientific name for this herb, actually I took some photos of this plant only a few weeks ago to put on a web site am doing on medicinal herbs in the Caribbean,would be grateful if any one can help. it is good to know the creole name but by knowing the scientific name can help with research on line. what i know for its name is TABACZOMBIE and in some Caribbean Countries it is called CATTLE TONG.

    • English Dictionary
      September 3, 2012

      Comfrey, is the scientific name

      • G Henry Williams
        September 3, 2012

        Thanks but I found it, is is “Pluchea carolinensis”

  17. yours truly
    September 1, 2012

    Some people smoke it ,but the real use for this outrageous plant the tabac zombie is mainly used as an Cold & flu medicine

  18. love
    September 1, 2012

    it is uses for cold and fever when you drink it you swet and cough out the cold

  19. joanie
    September 1, 2012

    Tabac zombie, used to treat the common cold.

  20. A Observer
    September 1, 2012

    Zombie Tobacco, used to help cure asthma.

  21. CANDID
    September 1, 2012

    Non other than the famous Tabac Zombie. Also called Tabac Jacko or Tabac Mouton. Excellent cold medicin, especially when there is a cough and and/or Hoarseness resulting from Cold.

  22. vetline vigilant
    August 31, 2012

    this plant is sage

  23. August 31, 2012

    ta bac zombie

  24. woodfordhill girl
    August 31, 2012

    Tabac zombie.

  25. hardy plant
    August 31, 2012

    Tabac Zombie Also known as ghost tobacco.
    Teas and compresses prepared from it’s fresh or dried leaves are good for digestive system, headaches, toothaches, sore throat, catarrh, flatulence, high blood pressure and rashes. Tabac Zombie is considered to be an antiseptic.
    They also puff it, to get a high.

  26. j.......
    August 31, 2012

    i’m going with sage. not sure of it’s local name.

    • joni
      September 3, 2012

      You are wrong, this is not Sage,

  27. PICODEAU
    August 31, 2012

    Tabac Zombie. When you hoarse your mother make Tabac Zombie tea for you.

  28. The Bush Doctor
    August 31, 2012

    ASTERACEAE – Pluchea carolinensis

    Kingdom Plantae – Plants
    Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
    Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
    Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
    Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
    Subclass Asteridae
    Order Asterales
    Family Asteraceae – Aster family
    Genus Pluchea carolinensis (Jacq.) G. Don

    “Cure-for-all”, also known as sourbush, sweetscent, wild tabacco, cattle tongue, salvia, sauge rouge, guerit-tout, tabak djab, zówèy mouten, tabac Zombie is a shrub 1 to 3 m in height and up to 6 cm in basal stem diameter.

    Benefits. “Cure-for-all” has an excellent ability to colonize and stabilize disturbed areas and act as a nurse crop for later-successional species. Although not specifically reported, as other members of the family, it probably provides a source of nectar and pollen for honeybees and other insects. It has several herbal applications including aromatic baths, control of fever, treatment of uterine fibroids, relief of sore throat and stomach pain, poultices for wounds and skin ulcers, as an analgesic, and for the treatment of malaria (Balick and others 2000, Liogier 1990, Vélez and van Overbeek 1950). Analgesic and antiinflammatory effects have been demonstrated in laboratory trials with rats (Gavilán-Yodú and Hechavarría 2002). Above all it makes a great tasting tea!

  29. DOMINICA
    August 31, 2012

    We use it make tea when we have the cold or not.
    Jumbie Tobacco

  30. upset
    August 31, 2012

    That is high leaf, but it is no ordinary high leaf, it is the one you give to the Jumbi to put in his pipe to smoke! then when he cough, you feel it in your chest that is why it is good for chest ailments. a.k.a Tabak Zobie!!!! :mrgreen:

  31. Sensible Dominican
    August 31, 2012

    tabac zonbie“jombie tobacco” or Cattle tongue. Very good bush for cold

  32. Indigenous
    August 31, 2012

    tabak zombie

  33. not easy
    August 31, 2012

    the HERB!!!!!! 8-O

  34. meaningful
    August 31, 2012

    tabak zombie aka jumbie tobacco, its really good for the common cold

  35. ED
    August 31, 2012

    That is tabac zombie.

  36. Rastafari
    August 31, 2012

    Not sage, same texture though. Sage leaves are much more narrow and tabak zombie is much thicker.

  37. bigmack
    August 31, 2012

    Thats a young lettuce plant

    • Anonymous
      August 31, 2012

      u neva see a lettuce plant man lolol

    • rats
      August 31, 2012

      Are you trying to get free information to write a book? Well I want my percentage of the procedes. Here you go: This is Tabak Zombie otherwise Known as Feye Pomard. If your wife notices that you are acting badly she can simply tie abundle of these fragrant leaves and branches to form something like a broom and wip you thoroughly while naked. This will surely get the devil out of a man.

  38. love
    August 31, 2012

    tabac jumbie

  39. Rasta fear i
    August 31, 2012

    mariju…srry i mean tabac zobie

  40. Rastafari
    August 31, 2012

    The original Tylenol, LOL! tabak zombie.

  41. Senior Citizen
    August 31, 2012

    Zowey mouton/tabac zonbie

  42. Andrea
    August 31, 2012

    Jumbie tobacco

  43. Anonymous
    August 31, 2012

    Locally called tabac zombie. I remember when I was a little girl I didn’t want to get near it because I thought the little bumps on the leaves were insect eggs! (Don’t ask… :lol:)

  44. ARE U SERIOUS????
    August 31, 2012

    what do i get if i win huh?

    • August 31, 2012

      You will be gaining knowledge and we in the Diaspors who forget will also get to learn about the different type of herbs on the Island I hope DNO continue with this exercise because some of us forget their names.
      Thanks DNO

      • DOMINICA
        August 31, 2012

        I love your reply to this person.

  45. befilia
    August 31, 2012

    allu sort, dat is an apple tree

    • woodfordhill girl
      August 31, 2012

      :lol: :lol: get outa here

  46. nogit
    August 31, 2012

    gumbie tobacco

  47. trolol
    August 31, 2012

    I see that many times before, but sadly dunno the name. :cry:

  48. Robyn
    August 31, 2012

    Oregano, and it is used for adding flavor to foods and also as a medicine for colds, flu, asthma, chest congestion and even fungal infection.

    • woodfordhill girl
      August 31, 2012

      Ok so I went to the kitchen to sniff the oregano to see if it smells like tabac zombie,sadly I don’t remember what it smells like,but I believe you.

    • G Henry Williams
      September 1, 2012

      This is not oregano, look at again only if is a different specie

  49. me
    August 31, 2012

    fete pomade, or most commonly known as tabac zombie, its good for chronic chest cold… you boil it, place it in a cup or large mouthed bottle and place in the refrigerator, before bedtime,sweeten some with honey or brown sugar… the best flu medicine

    • G Henry Williams
      August 31, 2012

      This comment seams to give the most correct details about this herb. In fact most comments are correct.

      • canusaynotsmart
        August 31, 2012

        u mean seems!!!!

        …unless you were referring to the seams in your pants….

  50. August 31, 2012

    tabac zombie

  51. student
    August 31, 2012

    feye pomade

    • I'm Not Suprised!!
      August 31, 2012

      this feye pomade, (pomade leaf) was commonly used for colds by my parents. I drank lots of this in the ’60’s and 70’s. Good drink.

  52. Da2debone
    August 31, 2012

    jumbiee tobacco or tabak zombiee its good for the cold

  53. lol
    August 31, 2012

    borjay, the leaf of the tobacco i see the loogawoo and the sookooyah smoking.
    i see all kind of little elf dancing in the smoke. their eyes were red self – high leaf dat :lol:

  54. Reader
    August 31, 2012

    It looks like sage

  55. Anonymous
    August 31, 2012

    JUMBI TOBACCO BETTER KNOWN AS TABAC ZOMBIE MOSTLY USED FOR FLU AND THERE IS OTHER PURPOSES CANT REMEMBER BUT ITS A VERY GOOD BUSH

    • August 31, 2012

      Thank u I didnt know the correct name.

  56. d paro 1
    August 31, 2012

    tabac zobie … duh….

  57. Grain Sel
    August 31, 2012

    Tabak Zombie

  58. lovely
    August 31, 2012

    its tabac zombie

  59. MUDD
    August 31, 2012

    TABAC ZOBIE (POMAD)

  60. Little BIG
    August 31, 2012

    That sure looks like a coconut tree.

    • De Boxer
      August 31, 2012

      u de best

    • Positive vibes
      August 31, 2012

      are u sick

    • Attitude
      September 1, 2012

      I bet is a banana plant you wanted to say.

  61. Anonymous
    August 31, 2012

    It’s a sage plant

  62. SFlo in DA
    August 31, 2012

    tabac zombie..

  63. Anonymous
    August 31, 2012

    It’s used to make tea I can’t spell the name I know it by…something like semaquater…I think lol

    • Anonymous
      August 31, 2012

      maji

  64. Rosy
    August 31, 2012

    tabac zombie

  65. shee nee
    August 31, 2012

    …that one have me beaten… :mrgreen:
    looks like “go jahy”…for spicing up a good sankoach…but I am not sure.. :(

    • Citizen
      August 31, 2012

      has colour of gojhy but gojhy leaf is thicher and rubbery-like

  66. %
    August 31, 2012

    It looks like ‘Tabac Zombie’ to me…….

  67. sweetyz
    August 31, 2012

    this is called tabac zombi in patios

  68. August 31, 2012

    ta’bak zormbi or jumbi tobaco is the name of the plant.

  69. Country Man
    August 31, 2012

    Tabac Zobie – Jombie Tobacco

    • Country Man
      August 31, 2012

      We use the tea to remedy cough and chest colds – drink warm not hot.

  70. Tri-State Beauty
    August 31, 2012

    Planten for high blood pressure? :-P

  71. hmmmmm
    August 31, 2012

    its called the worm bush (semen controis)

    • KoKo Naughts
      August 31, 2012

      stupes…when u hear people talking about bush doh open your mouth eh… :) :)

  72. DOMINICAN
    August 31, 2012

    i know it as tabac zombie in patois. i grew up knowing that name it is good for the common flu too.

  73. nature Girl
    August 31, 2012

    It looks like sage!

  74. God's Property
    August 31, 2012

    tar-back-zorbee….( hope I spell it properly)

  75. just looking
    August 31, 2012

    tabac zobie “jombie tobacco”

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