Common hog weed
Byttneria herbacea

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A herb. It lies along the ground. It can be 30 cm long. It has many branches. The stems are hairy. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are 2-3 cm long by 1.5-2.5 cm wide. The base is heart shaped and hairy. There are teeth along the edge. The flowers are red. They are in the axils of leaves. The fruit is a round prickly capsule.

Also put in the family Sterculiaceae. It has anti-oxidant potential.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows near Chennai. It grows on bare slopes between 800-1,100 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, India

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten as a green.

Famine food

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Aree keeray, Aree kura, Vipuri chedi

Synonyms

Buettneria herbacea; Byttneria cordata Willd. ex Roxb.;