Murdannia spirata

Family: Commelinaceae

What it is like

A perennial creeping herb. It lies along the ground. The leaves clasp the stem. It has horizontal rhizomes that are 1-2 mm across. The stems are slender. They are 35 cm long. The leaves are 2-4 cm long by 1 cm wide.

There are 50 Murdannia species. They grow in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in forests, humid wastelands, sandy places by streams from near sea level to 1000 m altitude in southern China. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, North America, Pacific, Philippines, Samoa, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young leaves are cooked and eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ai shui zhu ye, Rancamaya

Synonyms

Aneilema spiratum (L.) Sweet; Aneilema spiratum (L.) R. Br.; Aphylax spiralis Salisb.; Commelina spirata Linnaeus; Phaeneilema spiratum (L.) G. Bruckn.; Aneilema melanostictum Hance; = Murdannia spirata Aneilema nanum Kunth.; = Murdannia spirata