Murdannia edulis

Family: Commelinaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. The roots are robust and thickened near the end into tubers 8 mm across. There are several stems that grow from a ring of leaves at the base. The leaves are narrow and 10-42 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The edges can be wavy and have fine hairs.

There are about 100 Aneilema species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in forests from near sea level to 1,000 m above sea level in southern China.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Sikkim, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Tubers, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Myit-cho

Synonyms

Aneilema formosanum N. E. Br.; Aneilema loureiroi Hance [Illegitimate]; Commelina edulis Stokes; Commelina loureiri Lour.; Murdannia formosana (N. E. Br.) K. S. Hsu; and others