Himalayan mussaenda
Mussaenda roxburghii
Family: Rubiaceae
What it is like
A shrub. It grows 3 m tall. The leaves are oblong to sword shaped with a long tip. There are bristly hairs on the midrib underneath. The flowers are in dense clusters 5 cm across. There are 5 sepals of which 4 are small and one is large and white like a leaf. The flower tube is narrow and 3-4 cm long. The petals are bright orange inside and white outside. The fruit are oblong berries. They are smooth and have a crown of sepals.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. In Sikkim it grows between 1,200-1,800 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Bhutan, Himalayas, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim
How it is used for food
The young leaves are eaten as a vegetable. They are boiled. The white bract is fried and used as a vegetable. The ripe fruit is eaten raw.
Edible parts
Leaves, flowers, fruit
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Akshap, Dhobi kat, Dhobine ghas, Dhobini phul, Dieng jalongtham, Dobiphul, Dongkorio, Gardek, Jalai, Kolmotia, Lebathu, Pattaa tochar, Pantu-phettu, Soklati, Taksap, Tangmeng, Va-kep, Vopek, Worosuthan