Afghani christolea
Christolea crassifolia

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It can lie over. The leaves vary in size, shape and hairiness. They are oblong and 1-5 cm long by 5-20 mm wide. They usually have 3 teeth near the tip. The flowers are 5-7 mm across and white with a purple base.

There are about 20 Christolea species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In China it grows on alpine slopes between 3,500-4,700 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Asia, Central Asia, China, Himalayas, India, Nepal, NW India, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Tibet

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Sangso

Synonyms

Christolea afghanica (Rech. f.) Rech. f.; Christolea crassifolia var. pamirica (Korsh.) Korsh. Christolea incisa O. E. Schulz; Christolea pamirica Korsh. Koelzia afghanica Rech. f.;