Chongan
Apteranthes tuberculata

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A herb with a succulent stem. It is angular. It grows 15 cm tall. The branches are 8-13 mm wide. The flowers are in groups at the end. They are dark purple and deeply divided. The fruit are dry with many seeds. They are 8-10 cm long. They taper towards the tip.

There are about 56-100 Caralluma species. These are sometimes put in the Asclepiadaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows above 1,000 m above sea level in Baluchistan in Pakistan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Middle East, Pakistan, Yemen

How it is used for food

It is eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable. The stems are rubbed with salt and then added to dishes. The young stem is eaten fresh. It is bitter.

It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Vegetable, leaves, stems

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Aputag, Boteri, Khusmaa, Marmut, Pamakay, Pamanai, Pamanghi, Pamani, Pamankay, Pawanai

Synonyms

Apteranthes tuberculata (N.E.Br.) Meve & Liede; Borealluma tuberculata (N.E. Br.) Plowes; Boucherosia aucheriana auct. non Dcne. Hook. f.; Caralluma tuberculata N. E. Br.