Quail grass
Phyllanthus maderaspatensis

Family: Phyllanthaceae

What it is like

A herb or small shrub. It can grow for one or more years. It grows 10-60 cm high. Leaves are broadly sword shaped and 1-3 cm long by up to 1 cm wide. The fruit are round with 3 lobes. They are 3 mm across.

It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It grows on sandy soils and limestone. It grows from sea level to 1,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Arabia, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Botswana, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Burkina Faso, China, East Africa, India, Indonesia, Malawi, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Pakistan, SE Asia, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves are cooked in curries with pulses. They are harvested before the plant flowers.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chintala kura, Keelanelli, Poppu kura, Su Sang Sak, Taw-ziphyu

Synonyms

Many