Sweet Leaf, Sweetleaf Bush, Katuk
Sauropus androgynus

Family: Phyllanthaceae

What it is like

Sauropus androgynus or also known as Sweet Leaf is a tropical shrub growing about 2-3m tall. It has small red flowers, compound dark green and oval leaves, and purple fruits. Mainly found throughout Southeast Asia, it is often cultivated as leaf vegetable. The leaves are used medicinally to treat coughs and fever but mainly used as food - either consumed raw or cooked. Young shoots and fruits are edible as well. The leaves yield green dye which can be used as food coloring. Plant can be propagated through leaf cuttings, stem cuttings, and seeds sowing.

Sauropus androgynus is an evergreen Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Height (m): 3

Where it is found

Slopes with brushwood, sunny forest margins at elevations of 100 - 400 metres in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Yunnan Provinces.

E. Asia - India, Bangladesh, S. China, to Indonesia, Vietnam etc.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Fiji, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, USA, Vietnam,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 5

Leaves - raw or cooked. Young leaves make a good addition to salads, whilst older leaves are best cooked. They can be added to soups or cooked with rice. Young shoots about 7cm long, harvested as the leaves unfurl, have a flavour like asparagus. A sweet flavour, rather similar to fresh garden peas. The leaves are a good source of protein (about 6 - 10%) and are very nutritious. Ripe fruits can be made into sweetmeats. A green dye, obtained from the leaves, is used for food dyeing.

Colouring: edible dyes

Medicine

Rating: 2

The leaves are used as a medicine for coughs and to soothe the lungs, as a tonic, and as a febrifugal to relieve internal fever.

Antitussive: Prevents or relieves coughing.

Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.

Tonic: Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.

Other

Rating: 2

Agroforestry Uses: Plants can be grown as a hedge so long as they are trimmed regularly to keep them within bounds. They are commonly grown as a living fence or to shade vegetable cultures.

Fencing: Plants that can be used for fencing.

Hedge: Plants that can be grown as hedges.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

Hedge: Hedge

How it is grown

A plant of the tropics, where it is well adapted to lowland conditions but can also be cultivated at elevations up to 4,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 26 - 35°c, but can tolerate 5 - 38°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 900 - 1,200mm, but tolerates 600 - 4,000 mm. Succeeds in full sun and semi shade. Survives dry conditions and does not require a rich soil. Tolerant of very heavy soils. Tolerant of heavy rainfall areas, though they prefer a well-drained soil. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7, tolerating 5.5 - 7.5. First harvest may be taken after 55 - 70 days. Plants can be harvested throughout the year. In Java, the plant flowers all year-round and fruiting is usually abundant. Plants are fairly resistant to insect predations.

Propagating it: Seed - borne in abundance on the plants, they germinate readily. Cuttings - they strike readily. Somewhat woody shoots, 20 - 30cm long are used.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Ngub, Pak-wan, Chekkurmensis, Chekup manis, Changkok manis, So-kun-mu, Kakul, Ruridama no ki, Cekur manis, Chekurmanis, Malunggay hapon, Phak waan, Rau nyot, Rau ngot, Sweet shoot, Kantong, Tarok manis, Chermela hutan, Babing, Katu, Katukan, Katuk, Simani, Pakwan, Thavasai murungai, Sengtungrung, Dieng-soh-pit, Bo ngot, Katuk, Phak waan baan, Pawing, Pamao, Midum-an, japan batu / mella dumkola

Synonyms

Clutia androgyna L. Sauropus albicans Blume