Brazil cress, Para cress
Spilanthes mauritianus

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb. It is a slender straggling plant. It forms roots at the joints. The leaves are in distant pairs. The leaf blade is oval and 4 cm long by 2 cm wide. There are a few teeth along the edge. The flower heads have long stems. The heads have many flowers. They are yellow.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Swaziland it grows in the high veld and middle veld.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are chewed for their minty flavour.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Gahe, Parpehi, Saraktro

Synonyms

See Spilanthes acmella Acmella mauritiana A. Rich. ex Pers.; Spilanthes acmella auct.; Spilanthes filicaulis (Schum. & Thonn.) C. D. Adams;