Water smartweed
Persicaria pubescens

Family: Polygonaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It grows 80-100 cm high. The small branches are hairy. The nodes are enlarged. The leaves are sword shaped and 3-8 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The lower leaves fall off at flowering. The leaves are green with a dark patch below the middle. The flowers are red. There are 3-10 in a loose group at the ends of branches. The flowering groups are 1-10 cm long. The fruit is a dry 3 sided seed 2 mm long.

There are about 50 Polygonum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows along ditches and near water. In China it grows from sea level to 2,700 m above sea level. In Pakistan it grows up to 1,500 m altitude. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, East Africa, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Madagascar, Malaysia, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leaves are used as a seasoning. It is used as a leafy vegetable. The young shoots are used as a spice.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Jehe shla, Kelima paya, Kesuma, Lato pire, Nghe long, Nghe long, ng(aws)n, Siok-siok-rangan, Tebuk seludang, Tebok selydang, Tuboh lalap, Tuboh perpancej

Synonyms

Persicaria flaccida (Meisn.) Nakai ex Sasaki; Persicaria flaccida (Meisn.) H. Gross; Persicaria pubescens (Blume) H. Hara; Polygonum flaccidum Meisn.; and others