Showy millettia
Millettia speciosa
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
An evergreen shrub. It grows 1-3 m high. Some branches are like vines. The roots are spreading. They are fattened towards the end. The leaves are compound. They have leaflets along the stalk. The leaves are oval in outline and 10-30 cm long. There are 3-15 leaflets. The flowers are white. The fruit are sword shaped and 7-21 cm long. by 2-3 cm wide. They have a dense velvety covering. There are 1-3 mature seeds and some that did not develop. They seeds are shiy black and 1 cm across.
Where it is found
It is a subtropical plant. It is native to southern China. It grows in some seashores.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China
How it is used for food
The root, fresh or dried, is boiled with pork to make a soup.
Edible parts
Root
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Sgan lian ou