Alternanthera echinata
Family: Amaranthaceae
What it is like
A herb. The stems are slightly woody. It lies along the ground. The stems are 25-50 cm long. They are branched. The leaves are oval and have a sharp tip. They taper to the leaf stalk. They are 2-4 cm long. They are softly hairy underneath. The flower heads are in clusters in the axils of leaves and towards the end o the branches.
There are 200 Alternanthera species. An unresolved name in The Plant List. It may be a synonym of Alternanthera pungens.
Where it is found
A tropical plant.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, India, South Africa, South America
How it is used for food
Famine food.
Edible parts
Leaves