Five-leaved carpetweed
Trigastrotheca pentaphylla

Family: Molluginaceae

What it is like

A small annual herb. It lies along the ground or curves upwards. It is 10-20 cm high. The stems are 4 angled and branch from near the base. The leaves are wedge shaped and thick and fleshy. They can be arranged alternately, oppositely or in rings or whorls. The lower leaves have stalks while the upper leaves do not have stalks. The flowers are small but in large arrangements. These develop in the axils of leaves. The fruit is a capsule which splits open.

There are about 35 Mollugo species. They are mostly in tropical and subtropical regions.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in open sandy places. In Papua New Guinea it grows from sea level to 1,000 m altitude. It grows up to 2,300 m in the Himalayas.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia (country/location of origin), Australia, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, China, East Timor, Fiji, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, West Africa

How it is used for food

The leaves and young shoots and flowers are eaten as a pot herb. They are bitter. They are cut into small pieces and cooked with salt, chilly and oil.

It is usually too small to be a significant food.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable, flowers

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Binhcu,Bunga karang, Galingsa, Jharasa, Jharasi, Julpapra, Khet-papara, Marakata, Myetpan, Paepadakam, Parpadakapullu, Pirigarundi, Pita-gohun, Rumput belangkas, Rumput burong, Soi nok kao, Tapak burong, Vahmim bung, Va-umim-bung, Verrichatarasi, Ya nok kao

Synonyms

Mollugo pentaphylla L.; Mollugo stricta Linn.; Mollugo trifolia Schult.; Pharnaceum pentaphyllum (L.) Spreng.; Pharnaceum triphyllum Spreng.;