Garlic vine
Mansoa hymenaea

Family: Bignoniaceae

What it is like

A climbing shrub or woody vine. It grows on fences and hedges. It has tendrils. It grows 3-5 m long. Young stems are angular. The leaves are opposite and have 2 leaflets. The leaflets are 6-10 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. They are narrowly oval. The leaves are glossy. The flowers are trumpet shaped and purple. They occur in clusters. It smells a bit like garlic.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It can tolerate drought.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Brazil, Central America, China, Costa Rica, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Hawaii, Indochina, Mexico, North America, Pacific, SE Asia, South America, Suriname, Thailand, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leaves are used in the same way as garlic. The garlic flavoured leaves and stems are used as flavouring.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

It is grown from stem cuttings. It can also be grown by seed.

Its other names

Local names

Ajo natural, Bejuco de ajo, Do boin, Domoin, Gatiem-tao, Hierba de ajo, Hong trinh, Kra-thiam-thao, Mata de ajo

Synonyms

Bignonia hymenaea DC.; Pachyptera hymenea (DC.) A. H. Gentry; Pseudocalymna alliaceum var. microcalyx Sandwich; and others