Angeri, Asare phul
Osbeckia stellata

Family: Melastomataceae

What it is like

A hairy shrub. It grows about 2 m high. The leaves have stalks. The young leaves are bronze colour. The leaves are sword shaped and have 5 veins. The leaves are 5-15 cm long. There are short hairs on both surfaces. The flowers are pink-purple. They occur in clusters. The fruit is oval. The outside is felted.

There are about 60 Osbeckia species.

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. In Nepal it grows between 800-2600 m altitude. It is common in open places. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten fresh. The leaves are used as a vegetable. The flowers are eaten raw by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, flowers, root, seeds ?

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

In China plants flower in July to November and fruit October to December.

Its other names

Local names

Angeri, Ashare, Bi ji, Builukham, Chulesi, Didasa, Jia lakum, Kimu, Lote phool, Phao shanshi

Synonyms

Melastoma mairei H. Lev.; Osbeckia crinita var. yunnanensis Cogn.; Osbeckia mairei (H. Lev.) Craib; Osbeckia opipara C. Y. Wu & C. Chen; Osbeckia paludosa Craib; Osbeckia pulchra Geddes; Osbeckia rhopalotricha C. Y. Wu; Osbeckia robusta Craib; Osbeckia rostrata D. Don; Osbeckia sikkimensis Craib; Osbeckia stellata var. crinita C. Hansen; Osbeckia yunnanensis Franch. ex Craib;