Voice plant
Mollugo cerviana

Family: Molluginaceae

What it is like

A small herb. It grows 7-8 cm high. The root is thin. There are many stems which curve upwards. They are thin and stiff. The leaves do not have stalks. The leaves at the base are in a ring. There are 3-10 leaves up the stalk. They are narrow. They are 5-10 mm long by 0.3-0.5 mm wide. The flowering stalks are at the top or in the axils of leaves and in 3 stalked arrangements. These form flat topped clusters. The fruit is a capsule about 2-3 mm long. There are many brown seeds. They are D shaped and about 0.2 mm across.

There are about 35 Mollugo species. They are mostly in tropical and subtropical regions. There are 8 Mollugo in tropical America.

Where it is found

It grows in dry sands and shady wet fields from sea level to 1200 m altitude in N China. It grows in sandy and gravelly places in the Mediterranean. It can grow near salty soils and sand. It grows between 30-2,400 m above sea level. In Zimbabwe it grows between 850-1,400 m above sea level. It grows in hot arid areas with a marked dry season. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Central Asia, Chad, China, Congo DR, Djibouti, East Africa, Ecuador, Eritrea, Europe, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinée, India, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Sahara, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Siberia, Spain, Socotra, South Africa, Southern Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Uganda, Ukraine, Venezuela, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The stems and leaves are eaten as a vegetable and in savoury preparations. They are used as potherbs.

Edible parts

Leaves, stems, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings.

Leaves are collected during the rainy season.

Its other names

Local names

Ghimasak, Ilolompya, Kakotongo, Kibogaboga, Okaxungu, Pada, Parpadagam, Parpatakamu, Runkerenkere, Xiang ye su mi cao

Synonyms

Mollugo umbellata Ser.; Mollugo tenuissima A. Peter; Pharnaceum cerviana L.; Pharnaceum glabrum Steud.; Pharnaceum umbellatum Forssk.;