Bayambang
Deeringia polysperma

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

A slightly shrubby plant 1 to 2 metres long and green. It normally grows erect. The stems are hairy on young parts. The leaves are alternate along the stem. They are on 1-5 cm long leaf stalks. The leaf blade is 8-20 cm long by 3-7 cm wide. The leaves have a fine warty appearance. The flower cluster can have one branch. The flowers have both sexes. The fruit is a berry which is slightly flattened and 3-5 cm across. They can contain 20 or more seeds. The seeds can be 1 cm across and black and finely warty.

There are about 6-12 Deeringia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs in pasture land in the Philippines. In Papua New Guinea is occurs in moist places near water courses. It grows from sea level to 1,000 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Indochina, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Dialinh nhieu-hot

Synonyms

Celosia polysperma Roxb.; Cladostachys polysperma (Roxb.) Kuan; Deeringia polysperma var. pubescens (Schiz) Merrill;