Temegen huhu
Cynanchum thesioides

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A herb. It can be a creeper and has rhizomes. It is hairy. The stems are erect or the upper part can be twining. The leaves are opposite and without leaf stalks. They are 3-10 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The fruit are follicles 5-6 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The seeds are oval.

There are about 150 Cynanchum species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In Inner Mongolia. In north China it grows in open disturbed sites and sand dunes from sea level to 3,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Central Asia, China, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia

How it is used for food

The young fruit are used as a vegetable. They are also used for pickles.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Haogua, Haoguo, Lao gua piao, Lao piao, Temeen huhu

Synonyms

Alexitoxicon sibiricum (L.) Pobed.; Antixocum sibiricum (L.) Pobed.; Asclepias sibirica L.; Cynanchum thesioides var. australe (Maxim.) Maxim ex Kom.; Vincetoxicum sinirica var. australis (Maxim.) C. G. Wu & D. L. Li; and others