Kar-pidik, Hongohongo
Acalypha boehmeroides

Family: Euphorbiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.

There are over 450 Acalypha species. They are tropical. There are 225 in tropical America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It commonly grows as a weed in cultivated areas. It can grow in part shade. It occurs in lowland areas in the tropics and subtropics.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, Niue, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, SE Asia, Sudan, Tonga

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Possibly Acalypha lanceolata