Cynanchum ovalifolium

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A creeper climber. The branches are greyish-brown to blackish-brown. It has thick oval leaves. They are opposite and leathery. The leaves are simple and 7-12 cm long by 3.5-7 cm wide. They have a sharp tip. The leaves are dark green and shiny on the top surface and light green underneath. They have yellow veins. The flowers occur on stalks of equal length arising from the same point. They are 6-7 mm across. There are 5 petals. The fruit is a boat shaped dry sac. It is roughly triangular in cross section.

There are about 150 Cynanchum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in mangrove swamps on the ground and climbing up trees. In northern Australia it grows from sea level to 300 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), India, Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia

How it is used for food

CAUTION: Many Cynanchum are poisonous. The fruit are reported as eaten by children.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Sayor makan darat

Synonyms

Cynoctonum ovalifolium (Wight) Decne;