Heart-leaf swallow-wort
Cynanchum auriculatum

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A climbing shrub. The leaves are oval to sword shaped and taper to the tip. The edges are wavy. They are 7-15 cm long by 5-12 cm wide. They are hairy. The base of the leaf is deeply heart shaped. The flowers are whitish. They occur as many flowers together. The fruit is a many seed fruit which opens along one side. It is pointed. It is 8-10 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. The seeds are 8-9 mm long.

There are about 150 Cynanchum species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In Nepal is grows between 1800-3300 m altitude. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Tibet

How it is used for food

The young fruit are cooked as a vegetable. The young fruit are opened and the seeds eaten. The young shoots are gathered, boiled, washed and eaten as a potherb. The milky juice is used as a coagulating agent.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, seeds

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Da guo, Latikoseli, Niezi

Synonyms

Cunanchum saccatum W. T. Wang; Endotropis auriculata (Wight) Decn.;