Mini bamboo
Floscopa scandens

Family: Commelinaceae

What it is like

A creeping leafy herb, like wandering Jew. The stems lie on the ground and root at the nodes. The tips of the branches bend upwards to 20-50 cm height. The leaves are narrow and sword shaped and 4-8 cm long. They are pointed towards the tip. The flowers are small, green and covered with hairs. They are 4-5 cm long. The petals are blue. The fruit or capsule has 2 sections. There is one seed in each section. The seeds are about 2 mm long.

There are about 20 Floscapa species. They are tropical.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in moist places and near swamps at low altitudes. It is sometimes common in sago swamps. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia, Sikkim, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam, Oceania

How it is used for food

The leaves have been reported as eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

It grows wild from seeds or pieces of the stem.

Its other names

Local names

Aur-aur, Awo-awo, Gondo, Hawar-hawar, Ju hua cao, Kana himlu, Konda-amadikada, Padathipullu, Vazhaparathi-pullu

Synonyms

Aneilema asperum Buch.-Ham. ex Wall. [Invalid]; Aneilema cymosum (Blume) Kunth; Aneilema densiflorum (Blume) Kunth; Aneilema hispidum D.Don; Commelina cymosa Blume; Commelina densiflora Blume; Commelina hamiltonii Spreng.; Commelina hispida Ham. ex Spreng.; Dithyrocarpus meyenianus Kunth; Dithyrocarpus paniculatus (Roxb.) Kunth; Dithyrocarpus petiolatus Wight; Dithyrocarpus rothii Wight; Dithyrocarpus rufus (C.Presl) Kunth; Dithyrocarpus undulatus Wight; Floscopa hamiltonii (Spreng.) Hassk.; Floscopa meyeniana (Kunth) Hassk.; Floscopa paniculata (Roxb.) Hassk.; Floscopa petiolata (Wight) Hassk.; Floscopa rufa (C.Presl) Hassk.; Floscopa scandens var. vaginivillosa R.H.Miau; Floscopa undulata (Wight) Hassk.; Lamprodithyros paniculatus (Roxb.) Hassk.; Tradescantia geniculata Blanco; Tradescantia paniculata Roxb.; Tradescantia rufa C.Presl;