Man nuu
Coleus parvifolius

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It grows 25-50 cm high. It has tubers under the ground. These are like cylinders and 5-8 cm long. They are brownish-black. The stem is fleshy and stout. The leaves are opposite and each pair at right angles to the ones before. They are oval with an irregular edge. Leaves are 3-5 cm long by 3 cm wide. The leaf stalk is slender. It is 3-4 cm long. The flowers are arranged in rings at the ends of branches. The flowers are small. The fruit has 4 small nuts.

There are between 90 and 150 Coleus species. It is an unresolved name in The Plant List.

Where it is found

A tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indochina, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The tubers are peeled and cooked in hot sour soup. They can be boiled and eaten with coconut meat and salt.

They are sold in markets.

Edible parts

Tubers, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

See Plectranthus