Kapok bush, Pillow weed
Aerva javanica

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

A shrubby plant which keeps growing from year to year. It grows 1 m high. The leaves are small and blue-green. They are leathery. The flowers are white. The seeds are very small. They are enclosed in short white fibres.

Chemical composition (after Hooper): Fat = 3.15% (dry). Albumenoids = 20.12% (dry). Carbohydrates = 36.10% (dry). Ash = 22.48% (dry). Fibre: = 18.15% (dry). Nitrogen = 3.22% (dry). Phosphoric acid = .70% (dry). Silicates = 6.33% (dry). There are about 10 Aerva species in warmer climates.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It often grows on sandy soils. It grows in arid places. It can grow in salty places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Algeria, Asia, Australia, Bahrain, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Chad, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Socotra, Somalia, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, West Africa, Yemen, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leafy shoots of young plants are used in curries. They are also boiled in water for 1/2 an hour then the water poured off and the leaves cooked with ghee, fried onions and red chillies.

Edible parts

Shoots, leaves, seeds, flowers, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Boen, Boi kalan, Booh, Buida, Bur, Dholimundi, Doddahindi gidda, Fotivolo, Geed-bahal, Haamboobis, Kamheda, Magavira, Makosy, Niki boien, On-hnye, Perumpoolai, Safed bui, Shorakai, Snow bush, Sparokai, Suumagale, Thoo, Volofoty, Volompotsy

Synonyms

Achyranthes javanica (Burm. f.) Pers.; Aerva bovei (Webb) Edgew.; Aerva persica Juss.; Aerva pseudotomentosa Blatt. & Hallb.; Aerva tomentosa Lam.; Aerva wallichii Moq.; Celosia lanata L.; Illecebrum javanicum (Burm. f.) Murr.; Iresine javanica Burm. f.; Iresine persica Burm. f.;