Hewittia malabarica

Family: Convolvulaceae

What it is like

A slender herb. It lies along the ground and keeps growing from year to year. It can be twining to a height of 3 m. It can form roots at the nodes. The leaves are alternate and simple. The leaf stalks are 9 cm long. The leaf blade is oval and 2-14 cm long by 1-10 cm wide. There can be teeth along the edge. The flowers are in the axils of the leaves. The ring of flower petals is yellow with a purple throat. The fruit is a rounded capsule. It is 1 cm across. There are 4 valves and 2-4 seeds.

There may only be one Hewittia species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in forest re-growth. In Malawi it grows between 480-1,200 m altitude. It can grow from sea level to 1,800 m above sea level. It grows in areas with a rainfall of 1,100-2,100 mm. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Gambia, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, New Guinea, Nigeria, Pacific, Philippines, Polynesia, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. It can be cooked with other vegetables.

A minor vegetable popular in some places.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seeds or cuttings.

Leaves are collected in the rainy season.

Its other names

Local names

Mafumanheca, Nhembeatata

Synonyms

Convolvulus bicolor Vahl; Convovulus bracteatus Vahl; Convolvulus malabaricus L. Convolvulus scandens J. Koenig ex Milne; Convolvulus sublobatus J.f.; Hewittia bicolor Wight & Arn.; Hewittia scandens (J. Koenig ex Milne) Mabb.; Hewittia sublobata (Linn. f.) O. Ktze; Shuteria bicolor Choisy; Shutereia sublobata (L.f.) House;