Holostemma creeper
Holostemma ada-kodien

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A climber. The stems are 8 m long and much branched. They can be hairy. The leaves are oval or heart shaped and 5-12 cm long by 2-8 cm wide. The flowers are yellowish white and red or purple inside. The fruit are follicles 8-14 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. The seeds are oval.

Also put in the family Asclepiadaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows near Chennai and on the Deccan. It grows in all kinds of soils up to 2,000 metres. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand

How it is used for food

The flowers are made into curries. The leaves are eaten boiled with salt and chili. The fruit are used as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, flowers, roots

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ada kodein, Ada modein, Apung, Arkapushpi, Chhirvel, Chirval, Dudipalatige, Dudurli, Jivanti, Kharner, Khiravel, Khirdodi, Palapariki, Palatura, Palay kirai, Polagurugu, Rani marwi, Shidodi, Shiri, Tulatule, Tultuli

Synonyms

Asclepias annularis Roxb.; Holostemma annularis (Roxb.) K.Schum ; Holostemma rheedii Wall.; Holostemma rheedianum auct. non Spreng.;