Mountain knot grass
Aerva lanata

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

A low lying grey and hairy herb. It can grow to 1 m tall. The stems are 20 to 80 cm long and sometimes branched. The leaves are alternate and with leaf stalks 1-5 mm long. The ends of the leaves are blunt. The leaves are 1 to 3.5 cm long. The flowers are green and white and about 2 mm across. The fruit is flattened and 1 mm across. The seed is black and shiny. It is about 0.7 mm long.

There are about 10 Aerva species in warmer climates.

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It is common in dry waste land at low and medium altitudes. It is more common in places with a long dry season. In India it is on the Deccan below 1,000 m. It can grow in arid places. In Tanzania it grows between sea level and 2,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Benin, Botswana, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Cote d'Ivoire, Congo DR, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Middle East, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, North Africa, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves, stems and seeds are cooked and eaten. The plant (wet or dried) is made into a drink. They can be sun dried and stored.

It is a famine food. It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seeds.

Leaves are collected during the rainy season.

Its other names

Local names

Astmabayota, Bhui, Bilihindisoppu, Boorati, Chaya, Chepiskut, Chepkumot, Cherupula, Chivwa kuku, Daraara, Eleturot, Eleturot, Fod cadde, Food-cadde, Gadlak biro, Gorakha ganjo, Holly, Hudhufuffilaa, Kaganza ka mwana, Kapur-madhura, Karlakem, Kaudena jhangi, Kidelele, Kinonga, Kinongo, Kivuma nyuchi, Konda pindi, Ledra ara, Lendra arxa, Lopong arak, Lopong sag, Lopung, Lwelya, Mada, Maovi long, Muana nkasi, Paramoyo, Paunsia, Pichudi-sago, Pindiconda, Pol-kudu-pala, Polpala, Pompala, Shaza, Simetwo, Sirru, Sirupulai, Tabang ahas, Tebwa, Thelagapindi koora, Vhivwa kuku, Wario

Synonyms

Achyranthes lanata L.; Aerva elegans Moq.; Aerva floribunda Wight; Amaranthus lanata Dum. Cours.; Celosia lanata L.; Illecebrum lanatum (L.) L.; and others