Elatostema dissectum
Weddell
Gungee
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(c) Phuentsho, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Phuentsho
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) 通通, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
A perennial growing to 70cm tall with flowers from January to June. Monoecious, producing both male and female flowers on the same plant. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils. Grows in mildly acid, neutral, and basic alkaline pH. Thrives in semi-shade or full sun and prefers moist soil.
Description
A herb that keeps growing from year to year. It can grow to 1 m tall. It does not have stinging hairs. The leaves are alternate and the leaves are obliquely oblong and 8-15 cm long by 3-5 cm wide.
Edible Uses
Young leaves are edible when cooked. The fruit is also edible, though no further details are available.
Traditional Uses
The leaves are cooked and eaten.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
None known.
Known Hazards
Unlike many other plants in the nettle family (Urticaceae), plants in this genus do not have stinging hairs.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It grows in mountain forests and along rivers. It western China it grows between 500-2,100 m above sea level. In Yunnan.
Where It Grows
Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Japan, Laos, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam,
Cultivation
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it could succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. Plants can be either dioecious or monoecious.
Propagation
Sow seed in spring in situ.
Other Uses
None known.
Notes
There are about 200 Elatostema species.
Also Known As
Dong ma wang, Khlow
References (7)
- Cao, Y., et al, 2020, Ethnobotanical study on wild edible plants used by three trans-boundary ethnic groups in Jiangcheng County, Pu’er, Southwest China. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2020) 16:66
- Fern, K., 2012, Tropical Species Database http://theferns.info/tropical/
- Flora of China @ efloras.org Volume 5
- Gangwar, A. K. & Ramakrishnan, P. S., 1990, Ethnobotanical Notes on Some Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, Northeastern India. Economic Botany, Vol. 44, No. 1 pp. 94-105
- Kunkel, G., 1984, Plants for Human Consumption.
Show all 7 references Hide references
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
- Singh, B., et al, 2012, Wild edible plants used by Garo tribes of Nokrek Biosphere Reserve in Meghalaya, India. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 11(1) pp 166-171
