Wild cloves, Willow primrose
Ludwigia octovalvis

Family: Onagraceae

What it is like

A herb or shrub. It grows to 4 m tall. The stems are 4 angled. The leaves are simple and 1-15 cm long by 0.4-4 cm wide. The flower occurs singly in the axils of leaves. The flowers have 4-5 yellow petals. They are 10-20 mm long. The fruit is a capsule. It can be green, red or brown. It is 2-5 cm long by 2-8 mm wide. There are 8 valves. There are several seeds.

Jussiaea suffruticosa Walter is a separate species

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in swampy or wet areas in rainforest. In tropical Queensland it grows from sea level to 800 m altitude. It suits humid locations. In Argentina it grows below from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America (country/location of origin), Chile, China, Chuuk, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Fiji, FSM, Haiti, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Laos, Lesser Antilles, Malawi, Malaysia, Marquesas, Marshall Islands, Mexico (country/location of origin), Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nicaragua, North America, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Pohnpei, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South America, Tanzania, Thailand, Tuvalu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young shoots are cooked and eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Aieo, Banlung, Banlunga, Bhulavanga, Bilolobongo, Eeo, Kattukkary-ampu, Kattukkirambu, Kattuthumba, Kavakula, La'avai, Lalbunlunga, Losa sulu, Machali sag, Mathey, Meseii, Nalkimro arxa, Niruyagni-vendramu, Pahonglameng, Panalavanga, Slilma sirpi, Tebo, Telunrik, Te mam, Utilolob, Wu-in-bol

Synonyms

Jussiaea angustifolia Lam.; Jussiaea octofila DC.; Jussiaea octonervia Lam.; Jussiaea sagraeana A. Rich.; Jussiaea suffruticosa var. octofila (DC.) Munz; Ludwigia suffruticosa (L.) M. Gomez; Oenanthera octovalvis Jacq.; and others