Lipe
Pouzolzia sanguinea

Family: Urticaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows to 3 m high. It has a reddish stem. The leaves have stalks. They are alternate. The leaves are 5-15 cm long by 1-5 cm wide. They taper to the tip and have teeth around the edge. They are white and hairy underneath. The base is rounded or wedge shaped. The flowers are yellow. They are in clusters mostly in the axils of leaves. The fruit is dry and oblong. It is flattened.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Nepal plants grow between 900-3000 m altitude. They are common on rocky ground. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Tender leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The root powder is used to make bread.

Edible parts

Leaves, root

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Chiple, Osik, Pleta chi, Tanu

Synonyms

Urtica sanguinea Blume; Boehmeria sanguinea (Blume) Hasskarl; Boehmeria viminea Blume; Pouzolzia viminea (Bl.) Wedd.; Urtica viminea Wall.; Pouzolzia ovalis Miquel;