Renanthera moluccana

Blume

Anggrek nerah, Bunga karang

Orchidaceae Edible: Leaves

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Description

An orchid. It is a herb which grows attached to other plants. It has aerial roots. The stem is woody and 9-10 mm across. The internodes are 2-4 cm long. The leaves have tubular sheaths. These sheaths are 2-2.5 cm long and can be overlapping. The leaf blade is oval and 6.5-13 cm long by 2.5-4 cm wide. It is soft and does not have a distinct edge. The flowers are on panicles in the axils of leaves. These can be 50 cm long. There can be 5 branches and several flowers. The flowers are red but more pale inside. The lip has 3 lobes. The fruit is an angular capsule. It is about 4 cm long by 5 mm wide.

Edible Uses

The leaves of plants growing near the sea are used as a sour flavoring or spice and can also be pickled.

Traditional Uses

The leaves of those growing near the sea are used as flavouring. They are sour and used a a flavouring or spice and are also pickled.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It occurs along the edges of fresh lagoons. It grows from sea level up to 800 m altitude. They need temperatures above 12°C.

Where It Grows

Asia, Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, SE Asia,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from cuttings with at least 3 roots attached.

Notes

There are about 15 Renanthera species. They occur from India to the Philippines.

References (5)

Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 2 (I-Z) p 1921
Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 209
Nurfadilah, S., 2020, Utilization of orchids of Wallacea region and implication for conservation. IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 473 (2020) 012063
PROSEA handbook Volume 13 Spices. p 262
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew