Leafless East Indian vine
Sarcostemma acidum
Family: Apocynaceae
What it is like
A creeper. The stems are 2 m long. It is leafless. The flowers are in groups of 6-15 near the ends of the branches. They are white or yellowish.
There are 60-70 Sarcostemma species. Several Sarcostemma have been changed to Cynanchum. The stem has been shown to reduce fertility in male rats.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in thickets near the seashore. It grows in semi-arid places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Nepal, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam
How it is used for food
The milky sap is drunk to quench thirst. Caution:
Edible parts
Sap, stem, caution
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Somlata, Thannikkodi
Synonyms
Sarcostemma brevistigma Wight & Arn.;