Creeping ludwigia
Ludwigia stolonifera

Family: Onagraceae

What it is like

A creeping herb. It has stems that form roots at the nodes. It has pneumatophores or breathing roots at the ends of floating stems. It keeps growing from year to year. The stems are often purple-red. The leaves are narrowly sword shaped. They are shiny dark green. The flowers occur singly in the axils of the upper leaves. They are pale yellow with a dark spot at the base of the petals. The fruit is a capsule. It is light brown with 10 dark brown ribs.

There are about 80 Ludwigia species. They grow in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in wet places along rivers and lakes. It can grow up to 1,900 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Eswatini, Iraq, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Middle East, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Anatarika, Nyasigumba, Tsitondratondrana

Synonyms

Jussiaea diffusa Forssk.; Jussiaea repens L. Ludwigia adscendens (L.) Hara subsp diffusa (Forssk.) P. H. Raven;