Purple passion plant, Velvet plant
Gynura procumbens

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A climbing or creeping herb. It can grow 1 m tall. The leaves are fleshy. The young leaves are often purple underneath. They are 3-8 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. The flowers are in greenish-yellow heads 2 cm long. The fruit are 5-6 mm long.

There are about 100 Gynura species. They are mostly in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in sunny places. It grows on the edge of forests and in thickets. It grows along streams and up to 1,500 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan. At MARDI.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia (country/location of origin), Australia, Cambodia, China, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Thailand, Vietnam, West Africa

How it is used for food

The young leaves are sometimes used to flavour dishes. They are cooked with meat and in soup. CAUTION: In large amounts the leaves are poisonous.

In Malaysia the leaves are often eaten with rice. It is cultivated as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves as condiment, flavouring, spice

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds and cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Akar sebiak, Akar, Bau dat, Daun dewa, Ebure, Gipoi, Kacham akar, Kelemai merah, Kim that, Phti angkam, Rau hung lui, Sambung nyawa

Synonyms

Cacalia procumbens Lour.; Cacalia sarmentosa Blume; Gynura buntingii S. Moore; Gynura sarmentosa DC.; and others