Paederia verticillata
Family: Rubiaceae
What it is like
A robust climbing herb. It can be 3-10 m long. It has a bad smell. The leaves are usually in rings of 3. The leaf stalks are long. The leaves are oval or sword shaped and the base is heart shaped. It narrows towards the tip. The leaves are dark green and shiny above and less green and shiny below. They are 5-10 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. The flowers are small and have short stalks. They are in large leafy panicles 8-50 cm long. The fruit are flattened and round. They have 5 curved nerves on each side. They are 1.5 cm across. The seeds are black.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. In Indonesia it grows in forests in humus rich soils.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Indonesia, SE Asia
How it is used for food
The leaves are best steamed then eaten. The smell disappears with steaming.
Edible parts
Leaves
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Aroi kahitutan badak