Sa Lae
Broussonetia kurzii

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A wild climbing shrub. The leaves are alternate. They are oval and narrow towards the tip and are reduced towards the base. They are 7-20 cm long by 2.5-7 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 2-3 mm long. The flower arrangements have male and female flowers separately. The male flowers are spikes like cylinders. They are 4-5 cm long. The female flowers are clusters with 3-5 heads. They are 5-7 mm wide. The fruit is a dry one enclosed in bracts. It is 8-10 mm across. The seeds are shaped like a lens.

There are 4-8 Broussonetia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is found in tropical deciduous forest and scrub. In Yunnan in China it grows between 200-600 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The rounded flower heads are used in hot sour soup. The young fruit are cooked and used as a vegetable in curry.

Edible parts

Flowers, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Luo ye hua sang

Synonyms

Allaeanthus kurzii J.D.Hooker;