Olax nana
Family: Olacaceae
What it is like
A small shrub. It has a woody rootstock. The shoots are upright and green. They are 60 cm tall and ribbed. The leaves are sword shaped and have short stalks. The leaves are 3-6 cm long by 6-14 mm wide. The flowers occur singly in the axils of leaves and are white. The fruit are fleshy and about 8 mm across. They are yellow when ripe.
There are about 40 Olax species. They are tropical.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It is an undershrub in the grasslands in the sub-himalayan tract up to 1,900 m altitude in Pakistan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Thailand
How it is used for food
The leaves are boiled and eaten.
Leaves are sold in local markets.
Edible parts
Fruit, leaves
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Himi, Merom-met, Se-may, Shigroti, Studio, Tadholi