Beach launaea
Launaea sarmentosa

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A fleshy herb. It lies along the ground and is creeping. It keeps growing from year to year. It has a taproot and trailing side roots that bear shoots. The creeping stems are 20-90 cm long. The leaves are in a ring. They are spoon shaped and 3-8 cm long by 1 cm wide. There are deep lobes along the side. The flowers are yellow.

Where it is found

It grows in subtropical places. Deccan. Rajasthan. It grows naturally on sandy plains. In China it grows in coastal sandy areas just above the high tide mark. In Maldives it is common along the sea shore.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, China, East Africa, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Maldives, Mozambique, Myanmar, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leaves are occasionally eaten. They are finely chopped.

A famine food. It is used in several dishes in Maldives.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Coi, Kulhafila, Kullafila, Pathri, Pathuri

Synonyms

Lactuca sarmentosa (Willd.) DC.; Launaea pinnatifida Cass.; and several others