Hillside bitter potherb, Milk vegetable
Ixeris chinensis

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A low herb. It keeps growing from year to year. The stems are erect. They are 15-40 cm long. There are a few leaves on the lower part of the stem and these are 8-25 cm long by 0.5-2 cm wide. They narrow at the base into the leaf stalk that has wings. The higher leaves are small and like bracts. They are 1-3 mm long. There are several flower heads. They are white and yellow.

There are about 20 Ixeris species. It is considered to have medicinal properties.

Where it is found

It is a temperate and subtropical plant. It is widespread throughout Taiwan. In China it grows in open areas and riverbanks and on sandy soil between 100-4,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Russia, SE Asia, Taiwan, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leaves are boiled or fried.

Edible parts

Leaves, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Kuga, Kuhua, Ku ma cai, Nai jiang cai, Shan ku mai

Synonyms

Ixeridium chinense (Thunb.) Tzvel.; Prenanthes chinensis Thunb.;