Coleus parvifolius

Description

An annual herb. It grows 25-50 cm high. It has tubers under the ground. These are like cylinders and 5-8 cm long. They are brownish-black. The stem is fleshy and stout. The leaves are opposite and each pair at right angles to the ones before. They are oval with an irregular edge. Leaves are 3-5 cm long by 3 cm wide. The leaf stalk is slender. It is 3-4 cm long. The flowers are arranged in rings at the ends of branches. The flowers are small. The fruit has 4 small nuts.

Edible Uses

The tubers are peeled and cooked in hot sour soup, or boiled and eaten with coconut meat and salt.

Traditional Uses

The tubers are peeled and cooked in hot sour soup. They can be boiled and eaten with coconut meat and salt.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant.

Where It Grows

Asia, Indochina, SE Asia, Thailand,

Other Information

They are sold in markets.

Notes

There are between 90 and 150 Coleus species. It is an unresolved name in The Plant List.

Synonyms

References (1)

• Jacquat, C., 1990, Plants from the Markets of Thailand. D.K. Book House p 98

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