Olax acuminata
Family: Olacaceae
What it is like
A shrub. It grows 5 m tall. The branches do not have thorns. They are yellow. The leaf stalk is 3-7 mm long. The leaf blade is oblong to sword shaped and 6-10 cm long by 2.5-3.5 cm wide. It is papery. It is rounded or wedge shaped at the base and tapers to the tip. There are 9-11 veins. The flower racemes are in the axils of leaves. They are 1-1.5 cm long. There are 3-8 flowers. There are 3 yellow petals. The fruit is fleshy with a hard covering over the seed. It is oval and covered half way by the calyx. It is 1.5-1.8 cm across and orange.
There are about 40 Olax species. They are tropical.
Where it is found
A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in the rainforest below 500 m altitude in S China. It occurs in Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia
How it is used for food
The leaves are cooked and eaten with fish and meat. They are eaten in curry. They probably should not be eaten in large amounts.
Edible parts
Leaves
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds.
Its other names
Local names
Bol-narang, Dieng-tilut, Dieng-tyrut, Hanboka, Han-boka, Han-kanoj, Han-misang, Jian ye tie qing shu, Moen, Pachilaing, Yaolai