Purple emily, Sowthistle tasselflower
Emilia sonchifolia

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

An erect or sometimes straggling, smooth or slightly hairy plant. It is about 10 to 40 cm high. The stems are slender. The leaves are somewhat fleshy and the lower ones lobed. The leaves are often clustered towards the base of the plant. They are 5 to 10 cm long and 1-5 cm wide. The flowering heads are purple. They are in loose branched arrangements. The flower stalk is 3-7 cm long. There are about 30 flowers.

Leaves (Dry weight) Water: 0 Calories: 308 Protein: 22 Fat: 3.3 Carbohydrate: 64.3 Fibre: 11 Ash: 10.4 Calcium: 2187 Phosphorus: 648

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in warmer places. It occurs in the Philippines from Luzon to Basilan in open grassland and waste places. Plants are damaged by frost. It suits well drained soils and sunny positions. In Nepal and Java it grows to 1700 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Asia, Australia, Benin, Cambodia, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, China, Congo, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Equatorial-Guinea, Europe, Fiji, France, Ghana, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Niue, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South America, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

The young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They can also be eaten raw. They are eaten before the plant starts flowering. They are also used in soups. The young unopened flowers can also be eaten.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Leaves are sold in markets in Indonesia.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable, flowers, leaves - tea

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. Seed are sown where they are to grow. Plants can be transplanted when small.

In Australia the plant flowers in April to July. The leaves need to be eaten before flowering.

Its other names

Local names

Akogbo, Chaulene jhar, Co chua le, Co mat troi, Dhamapon, Djonge, Emilia, Floras paint brush, Fua lele, Genta ao, Gbolo, Haang plaa chon, Hangplachon, Han-ik, Hirankhurai, Hirankhuri, Hu pla choon, Jonge, Kemendilan, Kemondelan, Ketumbit jantan, Kirikulhlha, Lamlampaka, Linpi, Makka, Momelan, Mula paate, Mulshevi, Muyalcheviyan, Muyalkivi, Nanara, Odundun odo, Paklinpii, Patah kemudi, Phakbang, Phakdaeng, Phak kat nok khao, Phak lin pii, Pisowa-pisowa, Pupu lele, Rau ma la rau muong, Rauvivi,Red tassel Flower, Rubolbol, Sadamandi, Sadhimodi, Sarap, Setumbak merah, Snau reang tuk, Tagulinao, Tempuh wiyang, Tori phool, Ye xia hong, Yieh-hsia-hung

Synonyms

Cacalia sonchifolia L.; Crassocephalum sonchifolium (L.) Less.; Emilia grandiflora DC.; ? Emilia marivelensis Elmer; Emilia purpurea Cass.; Emilia rigidula DC.; Emilia sinica Miq.; Gynura ecalyculata DC.; Senecio sonchifolius (L.) Moench.; Senecio sonchifolius var. bogorensis Hochr.;