Rhynchotechum ellipticum

Family: Gesneriaceae

What it is like

A small shrub. The stems are 0.7-2 m long. There are rusty brown hairs near the tip. The leaves are opposite. The leaf stalk is 0.8-5 cm long. The leaf blade is oval and 9.5-32 cm long by 3-10 cm wide. It is woolly. They are red-brown. There are teeth along the edge. In a flower cluster there are 15-70 flowers. The flower stalk is 0.9-4 cm long. Flowers are white or tinged pink. The fruit is a white berry 2-6 mm across.

There are 13 Rhynchotechum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In China it grows in shaded places near streams between 100-1800 m altitude in southern regions.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They are cooked with meat or fish. The ripe fruit are eaten raw.

Leaves are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chenkup, Endroigi, Ja-kharia, Japang esing, Jongku, Jooke, Kosabio, Mebitchi, Mehek, Mimalai, Re-gong, Telhlep, Theshuvi, Tiarep, Xian zhu ju tai

Synonyms

Corysanthera elliptica Wall. ex D. Dietrich.; Chiliandra obovata Griffith; Rhynchotechum latifolium J.D.Hooker & Thomson ex C.B.Clarke; Rhynchotechium obovatum (Griffith) B.L.Burtt;