Blackend Swallowwort
Cynanchum atratum

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

It is a herb. It grows up to 60 cm high. The roots are short and fibrous. There is a single stem with no branches. The stem is woody in the lower section. The upper section of the stem is green colour. The leaves are 3-10 cm long by 1.5-7 cm wide. There are fine hairs on both surfaces. The flowers are dull red. The fruit is oval and 6 cm long. It expels the seeds inside as it ripens.

It is used in medicine. There are about 150 Cynanchum species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in grasslands, riversides, dry lands between 100–2000 m altitude in China. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Russia, SE Asia

How it is used for food

CAUTION:

Edible parts

Leaves, seedpod

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bai wei, Qilxeel

Synonyms

Alexitoxicon atratum (Bunge) Pobedimova; Antitoxicum atratum (Bunge) Pobedimova; Cynanchum multinerve (Franchet & Savatier) Matusma; Vincetoxicum atratum (Bunge) Morren & Decaisne; Vincetoxicum multinerve Franchet & Savatier.