White pavetta
Pavetta indica
Family: Rubiaceae
What it is like
A slender shrub. It can be 2-3 m tall. It is erect. The branches are angular. The leaf blades can be narrowly oval or round. They taper to the tip and are wedge shaped at the base. There are 8 prominent veins each side of the midrib. They are 8-25 cm long. The flowers are in clusters without stalks. It has nitrogen fixing bacteria. These occur as nodules on leaves and spread into seedlings. The flowers are white and have a scent. The flowers are slender white tubes. They have 4 lobes. They occur in clusters of many flowers at the ends of branches. The fruit are black. They are 1 cm across.
There are about 400 Pavetta species. They grow in the tropics.
Where it is found
A tropical plant.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, Cambodia, China, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pacific, SE Asia, Thailand, USA
How it is used for food
The ripe fruit are eaten. They are eaten raw or pickled. The fruit candied in vinegar are used as pickles. The flowers are eaten in curries.
Edible parts
Fruit, vegetable, flowers
How it is grown
It grows quickly. In southern India the fruiting season is May to June.
Its other names
Local names
Angari, Asaval, Berenas, Berpusu bunga, Budhi ghasit, Duyi, Gading-gading, Gobor-hitha, Jarum-jarum, Jejarum, Jui, Kangyaphul, Kankra, Kathachampa, Kem pa, Khem-khao, Konda papata, Kotapengu, Kuku-chalia, Kukura-chura, Lakka papidi, Mata ayam, Menjarum, Myet-hna-pan, Myet-na-myin-gyin, Paapidi, Padera, Papadi, Papari, Papat, Papata, Papate kaayi, Pappadi, Papti, Pavati, Pavattai, Pawatta, Pechah periok puteh, Phingi, Puk chlma, Puldu, Samsuku, Se-baung-gyan, Sundok, Takali, Untai, White pavetta, Za-gwe-pan