Mountain-fleece
Persicaria amplexicaulis

Family: Polygonaceae

What it is like

A herb. It can grow 1.2 m high. It has underground stems or rhizomes. They are 1.5 cm across. The leaves at the base have long leaf stalks and those on the stems have short leaf stalks. The leaves are 4-10 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The flowers are in thin spikes and are bright red.

It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

It grows in moist soil. It grows in shady places in forests. It grows between 1,000-3,300 m above sea level. It grows in Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Nepal, NW India, Pakistan

How it is used for food

The roots are made into a soup and used as a tea substitute. Milk and sugar are added for the tea. The leaves are eaten as a vegetable. They are boiled and then fried.

Edible parts

Rhizomes - tea, root, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Aambla, Ban madua, Durpa tandar, Kukar makri, Rain, Roye

Synonyms

Bistorya amplexicaulis (D. Don) Greene; Polygonum amplexicaule D. Don; and others