Oxystelma secamone

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A herb. It is slender and twining. It has milky juice. The leaves are narrow and sword shaped and 5-9 cm long. The flowers are large with a few in a group. They are white or red with purple veins. They are 2.5 cm across. The fruit are follicles 5-8 cm long. They are oval.

It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in marshy areas and on the edges of ponds.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Laos, Malaysia, Middle East, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The flowers are used as a vegetable. The fruit and leaves are also eaten.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Flowers, roots, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Dudhani, Dudhi, Dudhialata, Dudhiya lata, Dudipala, Dugdhika, Dugdhike, Duheli, Gugheni, Jaldudhi, Khirai, Kirui, Usippalai

Synonyms

Oxystelma esculentum (L.f.) R. Br. ex Schult.; Oxystelma wallichii Wight; Periploca esculenta L.f.; Sarcostemma esculentum (L.f.) R. W. Holm;