Tooth-cup, Joint potherb
Rotala indica

Family: Lythraceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It can grow on land or in water. It is about 40 cm high. The stems are creeping and branched at the base. It can be weakly 4 angled. The leaves are divided and broadly oval. They are 5-17 mm long by 3-8 mm wide. The flowers are small and 1-2 mm long. They are in spikes 6-12 mm long in the axils of leaves. The fruit is an oblong capsule 1.5 mm long. It has lines along it. The seeds do not have wings.

There are 45 Rotala species. They grow in water.

Where it is found

It grows in temperate and tropical places. It is common in central and southern China. It is usually associated with rice cultivation. It grows in wetlands. In Pakistan it grows between 300-1,800 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Central Africa, Central Asia, China, Congo, Europe, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mediterranean, Middle East, Myanmar, Nepal, North America, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young shoots are eaten as a potherb.

Edible parts

Shoots, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

En ni a bo

Synonyms

Peplis indica Willdenow; Ameletia indica (Willdenow) Candolle; Ameletia uliginosa Miquel; Ammannia nana Roxb.; Ammannia peploides Spreng.; Rotala densiflora (Roth) Koehne var. formosana Hayata; Rotala elatinomorpha Makino; Rotala indica var. koreana Nakai; Rotala indica var. uliginosa (Miquel) Koehne; Rotala koreana (Nakai) Mori; Rotala uliginosa (Miquel) Nakai