Glinus lotoides

Hairy Carpet-weed, Lotus sweetjuice

Molluginaceae Edible: Shoots, Leaves, Vegetable 904 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Glinus lotoides is a species of flowering plant in the family Molluginaceae known by the common names damascisa and lotus sweetjuice. It is native to Eurasia and Africa and it is known in many other places as an introduced species.

Description

A herb. It lays along the ground. The stem are hairy. They are 10-40 cm long. There are many branches. The leaves at the base are in a ring. These dry off. The higher leaves are 6-24 mm long by 5-15 mm wide. Several flowers occur in a group. The fruit are capsules which have 5 valves. There are many chestnut brown seeds. They are kidney shaped.

Edible Uses

This plant is found in seasonally inundated land and has many traditional uses in cultures across its large native range, as medicine and as food. Young leaves and stems of Glinus lotoides are used as a vegetable in some tropical countries.

Traditional Uses

The young shoots are eaten as a pot-herb.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. They grow in open sands and riversides and waste places from sea level to 500 m altitude in China. It is often in muddy areas along watercourses and wetlands. It grows between 600-1,440 m above sea level in Africa. In Argentina it grows below 100 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China, East Africa, East Timor, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Mozambique, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Philippines, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Notes

There are about 10 Glinus species. There are 2 species in tropical America. Also as Mimosaceae.

Synonyms

Mollugo hirta Thunb.Mollugo lotoides (L.) O.Kuntze

Also Known As

Bhissata, Duserasag, Gandibudi, Gandibuti, Gholo okhrad, Kotrak, Meetho okhrad, Meterrie, Myet-pan, Okharadi, Porprang, Sirooseroopadi, Xing su cao

References (22)

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Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 42
Cowie, I, 2006, A Survey of Flora and vegetation of the proposed Jaco-Tutuala-Lore National Park. Timor-Lests (East Timor) www.territorystories.nt/gov.au p 50
Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1992, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 4. Lothian. p 363

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Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 121
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