Persicaria perfoliata

Persicaria perfoliata (basionym Polygonum perfoliatum) is a species of flowering plant in the buckwheat family. Common names include mile-a-minute, devil's tail, giant climbing tearthumb, and Asiatic tearthumb. It is a trailing herbaceous annual vine with barbed stems and triangular leaves. It is native to most of temperate and tropical eastern Asia, occurring from eastern Russia and Japan in the north, and the range extending to the Philippines and India in the south. P. perfoliata can be an aggressive, highly invasive weed outside of its native range. In Europe, Persicaria perfoliata is included since 2016 in the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern (the Union list). This implies that this species cannot be imported, cultivated, transported, commercialized, planted, or intentionally released into the environment in the whole of the European Union.

Description

A trailing annual herb. It can grow for one or more years. It is 2-3 m long. It has prickles which are hooked. The limb is triangular in cross section. The leaves are D shaped. They are 2-8 cm across. There can be bristles which curve backwards on the edges. The flowers are in spike like heads. These are at the top of the plant or in the axils of leaves. There can be one to many flowers. They are white or pink. The fruit is almost round and 3 mm across. They are black and shiny.

Edible Uses

The tender leaves and shoots are cooked and eaten as a vegetable, or cooked with other greens as a side salad with rice. Leaves are prepared into chutney for their pleasantly acid flavor, and used as a sour flavoring in soups, stews, and fish dishes. The ripe fruit are eaten fresh, particularly by children. Leaves are sold in local markets and can be used for tea.

Traditional Uses

The leaves are used for preparing chutney. They are pleasantly acid. The tender leaves and shoots are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The young leaves and stem tips and young fruit are cooked with other greens and used as a side salad with rice. It is also used as a sour flavouring for soups, stews and fish dishes. The ripe fruit are eaten fresh. Caution: It can be high in oxalates.

Medicinal Uses

In traditional Chinese medicine, Persicaria perfoliata is known as gangbangui (Chinese: 杠板归; pinyin: gāngbǎngūi), and is thought to be useful for various remedies in herbal medicine. It can also be used as a fiber or used in rope making.

Known Hazards

Although no specific mention has been made for this species, there have been reports that some members of this genus can cause photosensitivity in susceptible people. Many species also contain oxalic acid (the distinctive lemony flavour of sorrel) - whilst not toxic this substance can bind up other minerals making them unavailable to the body and leading to mineral deficiency. Having said that, a number of common foods such as sorrel and rhubarb contain oxalic acid and the leaves of most members of this genus are nutritious and beneficial to eat in moderate quantities. Cooking the leaves will reduce their content of oxalic acid. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition.

Distribution

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in open wet places. It grows from 1000-1750 m altitude in Papua in Indonesia. In Nepal plants grow between 900-1400 m altitude. They grow in moist, open land.

Where It Grows

Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, New Guinea, North America, Northeastern India, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, USA, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. It can also be grown from rooted cuttings.

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ. Germination is usually free and easy.

Other Information

Leaves are sold in local markets. It is cultivated. The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Notes

There are about 50 Polygonum species.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Achajay, Amile pire lahara, Baghasora, Bagh asora, Bakhre, Bonoriya ghehu, Ci li tou, Gianbanqui, Ghumauro kanda, Haganturia, Hanserong derot, Hengaturia, Kanta tokpata, Lingthuh, Ma-ngo, Ma-seinthli, Mikhri lai, Moitha sikhla, Nghe xuyen-la, Posikung, Thanlanqui, Wedusan

References (41)

• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 481 (As Polygonum perfoliatum)
• Bajracharya, D., 1980, Nutritive Values of Nepalese Edible Wild Fruits. Z. Lebensm. Unters. Forsch. 171: 363-366 (As Polygonum perfoliatum)
• Barua, U., et al, 2007, Wild edible plants of Majuli island and Darrang districts of Assam. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 6(1) pp 191-194 (As Polygonum perfoliatum)
• Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 49:275. 1913 (As Persicaria perfoliata)
• Dangol, D. R. et al, 2017, Wild Edible Plants in Nepal. Proceedings of 2nd National Workshop on CUAOGR, 2017. (As Polygonum perfoliatum)

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