Madras carpet
Grangea maderaspatana

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A leafy herb. It grows each year from seed. It lies along the ground. It forms round patches. It grows 50 cm tall. The stems are hairy. The leaves have stalks. The edges are deeply wavy and divided into narrow leaflets. The flower heads are green or yellow. The fruit is an achene.

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in Nepal to about 2000 m altitude. It grows on dry, sandy loams. It is common on the edges of canals, ditches and rice fields. It grows in wet grassland savannah. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, China, East Africa, Gabon, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, SE Asia, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

The tender leaves are cooked as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds or by splitting the clump.

Its other names

Local names

Bhediachim, Bichi ba, Cai dong, Davana, Gobre jhar, Jhim jhime, Jhinkimundi, Machipatri, Masipathri, Mukhatari, Mustaru, Nahanigorakha-mundi, Namuti, Nilampala, Rau coc, Save, Taw-ma-hnyo-lon, Ye-tazwet

Synonyms

Artemisia maderaspatana L.; Cotula hemisphaerica Wallich, not (Roxb.)Wall. ex C.B.Clarke;