Polygala chinensis

Family: Polygalaceae

What it is like

An erect and slightly branched slender herb. The leaves are alternate and rarely in a ring around the stem. They are without a leaf like appendage at the base of the leaf stem. The flowers are at the ends or in the axils of branches. They are short long spikes or on short equal stalks equally placed along the central stem. The sepals usually remain on the plant. They are unequal and the 2 inner ones are large and like petals. The ovary has 2 cells and the ovules and one their own. The capsule is 2 celled and 2 seeded and small with separate cavities.

There are about 600 Polygala species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. They occur in Rizal, Laguna, Cavite and Mindanao in the Philippines. It occurs in Mumbai in India. In southern China it grows in grasslands between 500-1,100 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The tender leaves are edible cooked.

It is sold in local markets in China.

Edible parts

Leaves, leaves - tea

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Da jin niu cao, Ngeli, Meradu, Miragu, Negri, Phuntani, Diuata, Pilibhonyasna, Gaighura, Bir mindi tasad

Synonyms

Polygala telephoides Willd.; Polygala brachystachya DC., non Blume;