Climbing wool-plant
Aerva sanguinolenta

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

A deciduous herb. It grows 0.4-1 m tall. The stems are weak and straggling. They are rounded and have a channel. They are velvety with white hairs. The leaves have leaf stalks. The leaves are 2.5-10 cm long and 1-5 cm wide. They are oval to sword shaped. They have grey hairs on both surfaces. The flowers are whitish. The fruit is a capsule 1 mm long.

There are about 10 Aerva species in warmer climates.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows on hillsides and open forests between 1,100-2,300 m above sea level. It grows in dry places in Nepal to about 1400 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Ecuador, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, Philippines, SE Asia, Sikkim, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leaves are used to make a fermenting cake from which liquor in distilled. The leaves are eaten as a pot herb.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. They can also be grown from cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Apang, Bai hua xian, Chaya, Mansi ghans, Maovi do, Mauri lupu ara, Mo-kyai-pwin, Naria, Nuriya, Sambang colok, Taw-kyet-mauk

Synonyms

Aerva scandens (Roxb.) Wallich; Achyranthes sanguinolenta L.; Achyranthes scandens Roxb.;