Hare gageleto, Gugeo
Pilea glaberrima

Family: Urticaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows about 1 m high. The leaves have stalks. The leaves are oval to sword shaped. They taper to the tip. They have 3 veins. They narrow towards the base. The flowers are white or yellow. The fruit is dry and smooth.

There are about 250 species but 600 Pilea species have been named. They occur in tropical and warm temperate regions. Many in the tropics have not yet been described.

Where it is found

A subtropical plant. It grows in Nepal between 300-2000 m altitude. In Indonesia it grows between 1,000-2,000 m above sea level. It grows in moist, rocky places. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim

How it is used for food

The tender leaves are cooked as a vegetable.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed or root offshoots.

Its other names

Local names

Guge ao, Popohan

Synonyms

Urtica glaberrima Bl.; Pilea goglado Bl.; Urtica goglado Buch.-Ham. ex Wall.; Pilea smilacifolia Wedd.;