Sweet leaf
Sauropus androgynus
Family: Phyllanthaceae
What it is like
A low growing shrub with small red flowers. It continues to grow from year to year. It grows 0.8-2 m tall. It can grow 6 m tall. It tends to grow upright then falls over due to its weight. It branches little. Compound leaves on the sides of the stems bear flowers along their underside. Male and female flowers are on the same plant. The flowers are in drooping clusters. The fruit are purple. The fruit are about 1 cm across and open and drop their seed at maturity. See Breynia androgyna.
Demo. There are about 50 Sauropus species. It is high in Vitamin A and Vitamin B. It is also high in alpha-tocopherol or Vitamin E - 79.6 mg per 100 g. They have also been put in the family Euphorbiaceae. It possibly has anti-cancer properties.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It occurs commonly in SE Asia. It can grow in partial shade or full sun. It suits the hot humid lowlands. It will grow in heavy clay soils and will grow in acid soils. In Java it grows up to 1,600 m above sea level. At MARDI. In Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Ecuador, East Timor, Fiji, FSM, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pohnpei, SE Asia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, USA, Vietnam
How it is used for food
The young tips, young leaves, flowers and small fruit are eaten raw. Older leaves are cooked. Leaves are often singed before being added to soups. The leaves are cooked with fish. The fruit can be used to make jam. They are also used as a vegetable.
It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. It is a popular vegetable often sold in local markets.
Edible parts
Leaves, fruit, flowers, vegetable
How it is grown
It is grown from cuttings. Cuttings grow easily. Pruning encourages more upright shoots. It can also be grown from seed. Seed only remain viable for a few months. It is often grown as a hedge. Cuttings for this are placed 10 cm apart. Adding shade (shade cloth) and fertiliser can be used to force the leaf tips to grow rapidly. Normally bushes are planted about 60 cm apart.
Young leaves can be harvested 4 months after planting. The top 15 cm of young leaf tips are picked. It gives a high yield of leaves. Production continues year round. Shrubs last a long time.
Its other names
Local names
Babing, Boa kaalhulun, Bo ngot, Cekur manis, Chakur mani, Changkok manis, Chekkurmensis, Chekup manis, Chekurmanis, Chermela hutan, Chinese malunggay, Daun katuk, Dieng-soh-pit, Gam oying, Hanvoti, Kakul, Kantong, Katu, Katuk, Katukan, Malunggay hapon, Ma-shaw, Mella dum kola, Midum-an, Mithapotro, Nasi-nasi, Ngop, Ngub, Pak-wan, Pakwan, Pakwanban, Pamao, Pa wan, Pawing, Phak waan baan, Phak waan, Phak wan ban, Poshi, Qi du, Rau ngot, Rau nyot, Ruridama no ki, Sengtungrung, Shou gong mu, Shu tian cai, Simani, So-kun-mu, Star gooseberry, Sweet shoot, Tarok manis, Taruak manih, Thavasai murungai
Synonyms
Aalius androgyna (L.) Kuntze; Aalius lanceolata (Hook. f.) Kuntze; Aalius oblongifolia (Hook. f.) Kuntze; Aalius retroversa (Wight) Kuntze; Aalius sumatrana (Miq.) Kuntze; Agyneia ovata Poir.; Andrachne ovata Lam. ex Poir.; Clutia androgyna L.; Phyllanthus acidissimus Noronha invalid; Phyllanthus strictus Roxb.; Sauropus albicans Blume; Sauropus albicans var. gardnerianus (Wight) Mull.Arg.; Sauropus albicans var. intermedius Mull.Arg.; Sauropus albicans var. zeylanicus (Wight) Mull. Arg.; Sauropus convexus J.J. Sm.; Sauropus gardnerianus Wight; Sauropus indicus Wight; Sauropus lanceolatus Hook. f.; Sauropus oblongifolius Hook. f.; Sauropus parviflorus Pax. & K. Hoffm.; Sauropus retroversus Wight; Sauropus scandens C. B. Rob.; Sauropus sumatranus Miq.; Sauropus zeyanicanus Wight;